Four dead and one injured in taxi accident, cause of the accident 'operator error'

The cause of the taxi accident that occurred on June 6th in Ulsan, where a taxi driven by a man in his 70s crashed into a wall, resulting in the deaths of four people including the driver and one injury, has been announced.

On the 24th, the Ulsan Ulju Police Department stated that, following a request to the National Institute of Scientific Investigation to analyze the taxi's Event Data Recorder (EDR), it was confirmed that the driver pressed the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal just before the accident.

No mechanical defects were found in either the accelerator or brake pedals.

This was consistent with the analysis of the Digital Tachograph (DTG) records from the Road Traffic Authority and the EDR data. It was also confirmed through the black box footage that the rear brake lights did not activate just before the collision with the wall.

The autopsy of the taxi driver revealed no traces of alcohol or drugs, and no pre-existing conditions that could have contributed to the accident were found.

The police stated, "Considering that the driver was in his 70s and the results of the joint investigation analysis, we have concluded that the accident was due to operator error by the driver." They added, "Due to the driver's death, the case will be closed without prosecution."

Image source: News1