Teen Driver Causes Fatal Accident While Driving Without a License
A tragic accident occurred when a teenager driving a rental car without a license crashed into a central divider, sending debris onto an oncoming taxi and resulting in the death of the taxi driver. The incident took place on May 11 at approximately 4:09 AM on a six-lane road in Tangjeong-myeon. According to reports from the Asan Fire Department and local police, the K5 sedan collided with the divider and caught fire. Although the fire was extinguished within 17 minutes, the impact caused parts of the damaged divider to fall onto a Sonata taxi, killing the 60-year-old driver.
Investigations revealed that the K5 was being driven by a teenage male who was unlicensed. He was accompanied by two passengers, all of whom sustained injuries and were treated at a hospital. The family of the deceased taxi driver expressed their outrage, stating that the perpetrators showed no signs of remorse. The daughter of the victim, identified as B, took to Instagram to share her grief, saying, "My father lost his life due to an unlicensed driving accident, and our once happy family has been shattered. I can't understand why my responsible father had to suffer this fate. It's infuriating and heartbreaking."
B further criticized the offenders for their behavior during hospitalization, claiming they were filming TikTok videos and eating takeout while displaying a dismissive attitude, saying things like, "Why am I a murderer? I did nothing wrong." A video shared on Instagram showed one of the passengers, dressed in a hospital gown, laughing and responding negatively when asked how she felt about the accident.
The victim's family has initiated a public petition demanding severe punishment for the driver and passengers involved. Police have charged the driver with involuntary manslaughter under the Special Act on Traffic Accidents and driving without a license under the Road Traffic Act. The driver is reported to have appeared at the police station with his parents for questioning, while authorities are also investigating whether the passengers were aware of the driver's unlicensed status.
