[26.05.27] Drunk Driver at 180 km/h Gets Sentence Reduced

Drunk Driver Who Caused Fatal Truck Fall Gets Reduced Sentence on Appeal

📍A man in his 30s who drove at nearly 180 km/h after drinking all night, repeatedly crossed the center line, and caused a fatal truck plunge that killed two people received a reduced sentence in the appeals court

A man in his 30s who caused a deadly truck crash while driving under the influence received a reduced prison sentence in an appeals court ruling. While the court acknowledged the severity of the accident and the suffering of the victims’ families, it reduced the original 10-year sentence to six years, citing the defendant’s lack of prior convictions and signs of remorse.

🔹 Deadly High-Speed Drunk Driving Crash Kills Two, Seriously Injures Two
The Criminal Division 1 of the Chuncheon branch of the Seoul High Court overturned the lower court ruling and sentenced the defendant, identified only as A, to six years in prison on charges including dangerous driving causing death and injury under the Aggravated Punishment Act.

A was indicted for causing a major traffic accident on Sept. 3, 2024, at approximately 6:35 a.m. while driving an SUV under the influence on National Route 7 near Gangneung Bridge in Gangneung.

According to investigators, A crashed into an SUV traveling ahead. The impact pushed the victim’s vehicle across the center line into oncoming traffic.

A one-ton truck attempting to avoid the collision lost control and plunged approximately 15 meters below the bridge.

The truck driver, a man in his 70s, and a passenger in his 50s died from the crash. Another passenger in the truck and the driver of the first SUV suffered serious injuries.

Authorities said the deceased victims were day laborers traveling to a work site early in the morning.

🔹 Blood Alcohol Level Nearly 2.5 Times Legal Revocation Limit
Investigators found that A’s blood alcohol concentration measured 0.189 percent, far above South Korea’s license revocation threshold of 0.08 percent.

Police said A had been drinking for roughly four hours starting around 2 a.m. before getting behind the wheel.

Even before the crash, the vehicle was reportedly swerving across lanes, hitting the median barrier, and driving in the wrong direction, making normal operation nearly impossible.

Despite the dangerous condition, A accelerated to nearly 180 kilometers per hour before causing the fatal accident.

Prosecutors also stated that A drove approximately 3.1 kilometers while heavily intoxicated.

🔹 Appeals Court Cites Seriousness of Crime but Reduces Sentence
The appeals court stated that “the crime was extremely serious because two people died and two others suffered severe injuries.”

The court added that the victims’ families continue to suffer severe emotional trauma.

However, judges also considered that A had no prior criminal record, admitted all charges, and demonstrated remorse during the trial process.

The court further noted that settlements had been reached with some victims.

Prosecutors had requested a 15-year prison sentence during both the first and second trials, but the court declined to impose the requested punishment.

The original trial court had sentenced A to 10 years in prison before both prosecutors and the defendant appealed the ruling.

🔹 Defendant Submitted Daily Letters of Apology During Appeal
According to court officials, A submitted letters of apology to the court almost daily after receiving the heavy sentence in the first trial.

The appeals court appears to have considered those actions, along with the defendant’s status as a first-time offender, when reducing the sentence.

However, criticism is expected to continue, as some legal observers argue that reducing the sentence for a drunk driver who sped at 180 kilometers per hour and drove recklessly enough to cause multiple deaths may spark public controversy.

One-line summary : A drunk driver who caused a fatal truck plunge while speeding at nearly 180 km/h received a reduced six-year prison sentence on appeal.