13 injured as bus mounts sidewalk near Seodaemun Station and crashes into building: “No speed reduction while turning left”

[Financial News] A city bus crashed into a building on a road near Seodaemun Station in Seoul, leaving multiple people injured.
According to the police and fire authorities on the 16th, at around 1:15 p.m. that day, a city bus on Route 704 went over the sidewalk at Seodaemun Station Intersection and slammed into a nearby NACF building. A total of 13 people, including the bus driver, were injured in the accident. The injured included nine bus passengers, two occupants of a passenger car, and two pedestrians. The pedestrians, identified as Ms. A, a woman in her 50s, and Mr. B, a man in his 30s, sustained serious injuries and were transported to a hospital. No injuries were reported among NongHyup Bank employees or visitors who were inside the building at the time of the crash.
Witnesses stated that the bus surged forward without reducing speed at the moment of the accident. Mr. Park, 49, who was at the scene, said, “While making a left turn, the bus failed to slow down, dragged along the guardrail, and then slammed into the building. The crash made an extremely loud noise, and right after the accident, passengers poured out of the bus all at once.” Mr. Lee, 75, who runs a store near Seodaemun Station Intersection, also said, “The sound was so loud I initially thought a large vehicle had overturned. It was lunchtime, so people in the area were badly shaken.”
Thirteen fire vehicles, including eight ambulances, were dispatched to the scene to carry out rescue operations and transport the injured.
A breathalyzer test confirmed that the bus driver, a man in his 50s, was not under the influence of alcohol. A rapid drug test also came back negative. The driver reportedly told police that the brakes had failed.
The police plan to continue their investigation, including requesting an examination by the National Forensic Service (NFS), to determine whether there was a mechanical defect and to identify the exact cause of the accident.
\r\n\r\n
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter