A commuter bus crash occurred in South Korea when a company vehicle carrying 21 workers veered off the road and plunged into a roadside rice paddy.
Commuter Bus Plunges Into Rice Paddy
According to the South Jeolla Provincial Police Agency on the 3rd, the incident took place at approximately 9:39 p.m. the previous day along a four-lane road in Samho-eup, Yeongam County. The commuter bus, traveling in the third lane, suddenly left the roadway and crashed into the adjacent rice paddy.
Out of the 21 passengers on board, 20 sustained minor injuries such as abrasions. One additional passenger complained of lower back pain and was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Investigation Into Alleged Vehicle Defects
Authorities confirmed that the passengers were employees heading home after completing their work shifts. During police questioning, the bus driver claimed that the steering wheel suddenly turned to the left by itself while driving, pointing to a potential mechanical failure.
Police verified that the driver was neither under the influence of alcohol nor driving without a license at the time of the accident. Investigators plan to review the driver’s statement, thoroughly inspect the vehicle, and determine whether an actual mechanical defect caused the sudden loss of control.
