Husband Says He Lost His Wife in 2 Seconds... Drunk Driver Hits Couple in Their 40s Watching Cherry Blossoms

[The Financial News] A couple in their 40s was struck by a drunk driver while walking at a cherry blossom spot, and the wife died. The husband said the crash happened in just two seconds and called for the driver to be severely punished.
According to JTBC's "Incident Chief," which aired on the 26th, the accident took place in April at a cherry blossom site in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. The victim's husband, identified as A, was walking with his wife when they were hit by a vehicle that crossed the center line and drove erratically.
A said that just before the crash, "The car rushed forward the moment my wife said, 'The cherry blossoms are beautiful.'" He added, "I called out to her in a panic, but the accident happened in just two seconds." After losing consciousness from the impact and waking up, he found his wife lying 4 to 5 meters away. He called 119 emergency number and performed CPR following the paramedics' instructions, but she died after being taken to the hospital from a fractured skull and a brain hemorrhage.
Investigators found that the driver had consumed about seven shots of homemade liquor at a reunion earlier that day before getting behind the wheel.

Before the crash, the vehicle had been driving dangerously, crossing the center line repeatedly. The driver's blood alcohol concentration was 0.137%, well above the level for license revocation. During police questioning, he said, "I remember leaving the restaurant, but I do not remember getting behind the wheel or how the accident happened after that."
The driver had previously received summary fines for drunk driving on two separate occasions. A said, "I can never forgive the driver. I have no intention of accepting a settlement or deposit money." He added, "I never imagined I would lose my wife in just two seconds. All I feel is sorry that I could not protect the mother of our two children."

Meanwhile, prosecutors sought a six-year prison sentence for the driver on charges of fatal reckless driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.


hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter