Driver Under the Influence of Sleep Medication Charged After Accident
A driver who caused an accident while under the influence of sleep medication has been referred to the prosecution. According to a report from the National Police Agency's YouTube channel on June 4, an incident occurred in April on a back road in Seoul, where a vehicle was seen swerving diagonally before colliding with a motorcycle. Footage from the scene shows the driver, referred to as A, exhibiting erratic driving behavior, even crashing into a safety fence on the sidewalk.
Although A exited the vehicle when the motorcycle rider requested it, they continued to display unusual behavior, staggering and mumbling incoherently. At one point, A ignored the motorcycle rider and attempted to leave the scene. When police arrived, A exhibited a vacant stare and an unnatural gait.
Initially, the police suspected A of driving under the influence and conducted a blood alcohol concentration test, which yielded no significant results. A drug screening test also returned negative results, and a urine test confirmed no presence of drugs.
Further investigation revealed that A had been driving after taking a prescribed sleep medication. Even if a medication is prescribed, driving while impaired can lead to severe legal consequences under the Specific Crimes Aggravated Punishment Act. Article 5-11 of this law states that causing injury while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in imprisonment for one to fifteen years or fines ranging from 10 million to 30 million won. Additionally, Article 45 of the Road Traffic Act prohibits driving when one is unable to do so safely due to fatigue, illness, or the effects of drugs.
In a related case on June 1, a driver who caused an accident resulting in eight injuries after taking a sleep medication containing zolpidem was sentenced to a suspended prison term for dangerous driving resulting in injury. The court noted that the defendant was in a state that made normal driving difficult due to the medication, leading to improper speed control and failure to operate steering and braking systems correctly, which caused the accident.
