Car crash caught on camera sparks South Korean government investigation

[unreal.livejournal.com]

Korean officials are now investigating whether dashboard camera video that shows an elderly Korean couple speeding through crowded city streets and then plowing into another vehicle at 80 mph is evidence of sudden, uncontrolled acceleration by the vehicle.

Footage of the May 6 crash, in which 17 people were injured, was posted on an internet forum by the couple's son, who told Korean media he didn't think that the police or the auto manufacturer would believe that the crash was caused by sudden, unexplained acceleration.


The son, who would only give his family name, Kwon, to Korean media, said his father, the driver, suffered fractured ribs and fingers and his mother needed an operation to stop internal bleeding.

The incident, which occurred in heavy traffic in Daegu, one of South Korea's largest cities, was captured by a camera mounted on the Sonata's dashboard and facing forward. In the 29 second clip, the car accelerates quickly from a complete standstill. The driver weaves in and out of traffic, trying to avoid impact as his wife blurts, "Oh my god, what is going on?" The driver then slams into the back of a stopped car at 129 kilometers per hour.

On Monday, the Korean government said it planned to investigate the incident, and that it is also investigating several other incidents of alleged sudden acceleration.

In a statement to ABC News, Hyundai Motors said, "The Vehicle is being inspected by the Korean National Forensic Service. There is no time estimate for the conclusion of the investigation."

On May 5, Hyundai announced that all its cars are now manufactured with brake override systems, which are designed to stop sudden acceleration incidents. According to Korean media reports the vehicle from the Daegu crash was a 2009 Sonata.

ABC News has reported extensively on alleged sudden acceleration incidents in Toyotas. Toyota recalled millions of vehicles to address sticking accelerator pedals or misplaced floor mats. In all other cases, Toyota attributed complaints of sudden acceleration to "driver error," saying its research has shown the driver mistakenly pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake.

Source: abc & abc

Comments

[phililen3.livejournal.com]

There is no time estimate for the conclusion of the investigation

There better be, otherwise people are going to start dragging their feet with this investigation...

[xredada.livejournal.com]

The video isn't showing (i clicked on the source).

Damn i had the scariest sensation watching that video. Felt like i was in the car and i legit yelped when the crash happened.

[ari-meh.livejournal.com]

that video is terrifying D:

[herro-kitty.livejournal.com]

The driver then slams into the back of a stopped car at 129 kilometers per hour. jfc D:

[shintotchi.livejournal.com]

Ah I see so they're trying to figure out if the car was faulty or if the old couple i at fault. I didn't understand at first. Wish I could see the video though. It's totally black. :/

[soheefan.livejournal.com]

Just watching that made my stomach turn. Felt like i was really in that car

[izabera.livejournal.com]

// Toyota attributed complaints of sudden acceleration to "driver error," saying its research has shown the driver mistakenly pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake.//
It's true that people sometimes press the wrong pedal when they panic. But in this case it seemed the car accelerated of its own accord, like the driver pressed the gas pedal and it stayed stuck. Scary stuff.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

Toyota is at fault and this isn't the first time. I do believe in the states a few years back this happened too.

[ari-meh.livejournal.com]

*Hyundai
the car is a hyundai (:

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

My bad- Toyota has some issues too as it states. BUT no excuse thanks for the correction, statement still attached to the issue.
Well if Toyota had problems and now Hyundai, where are they getting their parts from??
Houston we have a problem......

[ari-meh.livejournal.com]

yeah, they gave toyota as an example... i wonder how they can even get away with these things.
i just hope the issue gets dealt with properly ):

[exo-cath.livejournal.com]

The car was going so fast omg, I would be so scared to be in that car!

[mayshy.livejournal.com]

i think i should be concerned now. i have a 2012 hyundai elantra 0.0

[cherrysakura16.livejournal.com]

DX that was scary to watch.
The elders seemed so scared and that crash looked painful!! and the car seems to keep on going after hitting the stopped car . . .
These manufacturers better solve this crap fast!

[xblackchristmas.livejournal.com]

hold on.
so toyota was brought into this discussion for its recall back then.

this car is a hyundai... 2009 sonata...
but no recall...

either this article has bad transitioning or im not good at comprehension.

[xblackchristmas.livejournal.com]

& when it's going so fast, does it not work to put the car into park maybe after the first 2 seconds?

[talklikeazombie.livejournal.com]

Omg the sounds the poor couple makes after crashing :'(
My teacher had that problem with her toyota once. She said the pedal was stuck and she had to put both her feet under the petal and pull is really hard to get it back.