Officer seriously injured after being hit by truck on highway; acting police chief vows support through recovery

[Financial News] Kim Jong-cheol, acting chief of the National Police Agency, ordered that no effort be spared in supporting the treatment and recovery of an officer seriously injured after being hit by a truck while working to prevent a secondary accident at a highway crash scene.
According to the National Police Agency, at around 5 a.m. on the 24th, an officer working to prevent a secondary accident at a traffic crash scene was hit by a 6.5-ton truck at the Yeoju Interchange on the Incheon-bound side of the Yeongdong Expressway.
The injured officer, a lieutenant with the Highway Patrol of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, was responding to the scene and directing traffic after an SUV struck a large trailer that had overturned on the road, causing a fire.
The officer suffered serious injuries, including a severed ankle, and was taken to Ajou University Hospital for emergency surgery. The officer's life is not in danger, but their treatment and recovery will need to be monitored.
After being briefed on the accident, Acting Chief Kim stressed, "It is the organization's clear duty to support an officer injured while protecting public safety through to the end, so that they can focus on treatment and recovery."
He also called for every effort to be made to support the injured officer's treatment, rehabilitation and return to daily life. He directed that thoughtful support, including psychological counseling, be provided to family members shaken by the accident and fellow officers who worked with the injured officer. He also ordered a fresh review of measures to ensure the safety of officers at the scene.
Taking the injured officer's treatment schedule and health into account, Acting Chief Kim plans to visit the hospital as soon as possible to offer comfort to the officer and the family.
The National Police Agency plans to continue working with relevant government ministries to expand support for officers injured while performing their official duties.

[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter