Prosecutors “There are parts that need additional confirmation”… Police “Decision on whether to reapply following supplementary investigation”
▲ On December 30th, at the scene of the fire in the soundproof tunnel of the Galhyeon Overpass on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, officials such as the police, firefighters, and the National Institute of Scientific Investigation are conducting a joint identification among blackened vehicles. yunhap news
On the 22nd, the prosecution rejected the arrest warrant issued by the police for two people responsible for the soundproof tunnel fire accident on the Gwacheon 2nd Gyeongin Expressway, which resulted in a total of 61 casualties, including five deaths in December last year.
The Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office’s Anyang Branch returned to the police the same day a preliminary arrest warrant for Mr. A, the driver of a tong truck for transporting 5-ton waste, and Mr. B, the head of the control room for the J-Kyungin Expressway (herefollowing referred to as J-Kyung-in), who are suspected of negligent manslaughter on the job.
Prosecutors said, “We requested a supplementary investigation from the police because there was something that needed additional confirmation.”
On the 20th, the investigation headquarters of the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency, which had previously investigated the accident, applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A and Mr. B.
On December 29, last year at 1:46 p.m., a 5-ton waste picker truck passing through the soundproof tunnel of the Galhyeon Overpass in the direction of Seongnam on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway in Galhyeon-dong, Gwacheon-si caught fire.
The fire spread rapidly as it moved to the walls and ceiling of the soundproof tunnel made of plastic, and burned regarding 600m of the 840m long soundproof tunnel until it was completely extinguished in regarding two hours.
The fire isolated 44 vehicles, including the first ignited truck, killing 5 people and injuring 56 others.
The police plan to decide whether to re-apply for an arrest warrant following supplementary investigations according to the prosecution’s request.
Reporter Shin Dong-won
