"I Can Drive After Drinking," Friend Says "I Trust You"... Fatal Accident Ensues

[Financial News] A driver who struck and killed a teenager while driving under the influence admitted to drinking but claimed he was still capable of driving. Despite appealing the verdict, he was again sentenced to six years in prison, the same as the initial trial.
The Uijeongbu District Court Criminal Division 2, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Taeyoung, dismissed the appeal and upheld the original six-year prison sentence for Mr. A, who was charged with causing death by dangerous driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
Last September, Mr. A drank ten bottles of soju with three friends and took the wheel in the early hours of the 29th.
Rather than stopping him, Mr. B encouraged Mr. A by saying, "I trust you," and got into the passenger seat.
While driving at 118 km/h between Mangwolsa Station and Hoeryong Station in Uijeongbu, Mr. A struck 18-year-old Mr. C, who was riding an electric scooter, resulting in his death.
At the time, Mr. A’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.155%, exceeding the license revocation threshold.
During the trial, Mr. A admitted to drinking but insisted he was still capable of driving at the time.
However, the first trial court rejected Mr. A’s claims, citing his history of nine previous traffic violations—including running red lights, speeding, and failing to maintain a safe distance—prior to the fatal accident, as well as his significantly high blood alcohol level.
Mr. A maintained during the appeal that his ability to drive was not impaired by alcohol, but the appellate court, after considering the circumstances, dismissed his argument.
Mr. B, who encouraged Mr. A and facilitated his drunk driving, was fined 5 million won for not only riding as a passenger but also for making remarks that appeared to encourage speeding.
jjw@fnnews.com Jung Ji-woo Reporter