On the morning of the 13th, a ladder truck tipped over toward the railway of the Gyeongui Line from an apartment in Seoul's Seodaemun District, cutting off electricity and causing disruptions in train operations. Police investigations revealed that the ladder truck driver was found to have a blood alcohol concentration at the level of 'license suspension.'
According to police, following the accident, a breathalyzer test conducted on a person surnamed Kim (41) showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.06%, which is at the 'license suspension' level.
The Road Traffic Act prohibits driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.03% or higher, classifying it as being in a state of intoxication. If driving after consuming alcohol, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.03% to 0.08% results in a license suspension.
Kim said, 'I drank a bottle of soju around 8 p.m. yesterday, and that’s probably what was detected.'
Earlier, according to Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), around 8:19 a.m. that day, a ladder truck that was carrying moving goods on the 18th floor of an apartment in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun District, lost its balance and tipped over toward the opposite railway.
As a result of the accident, electricity was cut off between Gajwa Station and Sinchon Station on the Gyeongui Line, halting train operations in both directions and disrupting KTX and regular train services. According to the fire authorities, the railway tracks were also damaged.
KORAIL is currently working to lift the overturned ladder truck and move it outside the tracks after completing cutting it at around noon that day. Afterward, they will work on restoring the tracks and electrical supply lines.
A fire authority official noted during a briefing at the accident site around 10:50 a.m. that 'it is expected to take at least five hours to resume normal train operations.'