25.08.05.Today News : 12-Year-Old Dies in Yard Crash by Elderly Driver… Family Says 'No Apology'

12-Year-Old Dies in Yard Crash by Elderly Driver… Family Says 'No Apology'

• 12-year-old Yoon Joo-eun, who was spending summer vacation at her grandmother’s house, was killed when a vehicle driven by an elderly woman crashed into the yard; family still hasn't received an apology

In a quiet rural village in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, a 12-year-old girl named Yoon Joo-eun lost her life after being struck by a vehicle driven by an elderly woman. The tragic incident occurred while she was playing in a tent at her grandmother’s house, and her family says they have yet to receive any contact or apology from the driver.

Yoon Joo-eun, 12, who was visiting her grandmother's house for summer vacation, was killed when she was run over by a car driven by an elderly woman in her 80s.

On July 27 around 6:40 p.m., a Mercedes-Benz driven by an elderly woman in her 80s suddenly crashed through the gate of a house in Yongmun-myeon, Yangpyeong County, and drove deep into the yard. At that moment, Yoon Joo-eun, who was inside a tent in the yard, was fatally crushed.

Joo-eun was spending her summer break with her younger sister and cousins at her grandmother’s home. She had just entered the tent to play board games and enjoy snacks when the vehicle crashed in, less than a minute later. Other children who were inside the house escaped the incident unharmed. Her younger sister witnessed the accident, and their father, Mr. A, learned of the tragedy through her.

In an interview with JTBC, Mr. A recalled, “She asked to set up the tent in the corner of the yard, but I suggested the center. We built it together, and it was a happy moment before everything changed.” He added, “I heard that the iron gate had fallen on her and needed to be cut to pull her out. That’s when I realized how serious it was.”

The elderly driver, a resident of the nearby village, reportedly attempted to make a right turn on a narrow village road but accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake, causing the vehicle to crash into the yard. The iron gate was struck, collapsing onto the tent and crushing Joo-eun. She was transported to the hospital but died en route.

Since the accident, the family has been in deep grief and unable to cope with the loss. Mr. A said, “I still can’t enter my daughter’s room. Her workbook arrived, and my wife and I just cried.” He continued, “I couldn’t even look at her face during the funeral. I still dream that she’s beside me.”

The driver has been booked without detention on charges of death by negligent driving under Korea’s Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling. However, as of one week after the incident, the family reports no apology or contact from the driver. Police are continuing their investigation, reviewing black box footage and driver statements to determine the exact cause.

According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority, elderly drivers (aged 65 and older) were responsible for over 17% of traffic accidents from 2019 to 2023, with around 25% of all traffic fatalities involving senior drivers. This case underscores growing concerns about the safety of elderly drivers on the road.

One-line summary : 12-year-old Yoon Joo-eun was killed when an elderly driver’s car crashed into her grandmother’s yard, and her family has yet to receive an apology.