The death toll rose to nine after pedestrians were hit by an oncoming car near Seoul City Hall, police said.
Six people died at the scene and three others succumbed to their injuries in hospital. where they were taken, fire department spokesman Kim Chun-soo said.
South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that the 68-year-old driver crashed into the crowd waiting for the traffic light to turn green for pedestrians, around 9:30 pm local time. The 68-year-old man was driving in reverse and had already collided with two other vehicles.
A prison
Jung-gu District Transportation Safety Bureau Director Kim Suk-hwan said one man was arrested. An investigation is underway to determine whether the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol or accidentally accelerated the vehicle.
Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul, called the crash “a very unfortunate accident” and asked rescue teams to “quickly transport the victims to hospital and investigate the causes thoroughly.”
Fatal traffic accidents are rare in South Korea, a country with a good road network and well-maintained cars.
Sources: AMPE, AFP