On the morning of November 11, a catastrophic traffic incident unfolded in Seongnam City, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. During the peak commuting hours, a city bus collided with a staggering total of 32 vehicles that were halted at a traffic signal before crashing into a central median barrier, bringing the chaotic chain of events to a halt. The collision resulted in injuries to 57 individuals, with 9 of those suffering from serious injuries. The bus driver informed the police that the brakes failed to function at the time of the accident, and the exact cause is still under investigation.
According to reports from South Korean media, among the nine individuals seriously injured are the bus driver himself, while 48 others sustained minor injuries. Emergency personnel confirmed that, fortunately, all those injured are currently in stable condition and not facing life-threatening situations. Following the incident, the affected roadway was temporarily closed in both directions, leading to significant traffic congestion during the busy morning hours.
The collision occurred around 7:34 AM local time at an intersection in the Yeta-dong area of Seongnam City’s Bundang district. The city bus involved was the No. 340 line, driven by a man in his sixties, who first collided with four other buses, a truck, and 27 passenger cars along the way.
The South Korean news outlet reported that the bus traveled approximately 100 to 150 meters while repeatedly crashing into other vehicles before finally striking the central median. Photos taken at the scene illustrated the extent of the damage, with the bus’s windshield shattered and numerous vehicles noticeably damaged. The interior of the bus was littered with shards of glass and belongings belonging to passengers.
An eyewitness recounted the startling events, stating, “I heard a sound similar to that of a building collapsing… a bus was slamming into other buses and cars.”
Further information from another news channel indicated that firefighters arrived at the scene approximately 10 minutes after the accident was reported and promptly established an emergency medical station. A total of 45 personnel and 18 pieces of equipment were mobilized for the rescue effort, with some trained medical staff boarding ambulances to provide immediate care on-site.
The driver who was taken to the hospital asserted that “the brake system did not engage,” according to reports. The police conducted a breathalyzer test at the scene, which revealed no trace of alcohol. However, investigations are ongoing to determine if drug influence was a factor and to confirm the precise driving conditions at the moment of the incident.
To fully understand the sequence of events during the multi-vehicle collision, authorities are planning to examine the bus’s dashcam footage as well as nearby surveillance videos.
While traffic controls were enforced on the roadway for a period, leading to significant disruptions, measures have since been lifted as damaged vehicles were cleared from the scene, allowing for the restoration of normal traffic flow.