Man who fled sobriety test plunges into sea, rescued by coast guard

A man in his 30s who refused a sobriety test and fled police in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, drove his vehicle into the sea before being rescued.

The Masan Jungbu Police Station announced Monday that it had arrested the man, identified only as A, on charges including obstruction of official duties resulting in injury.

A is accused of refusing a police request to submit to a breathalyzer test and fleeing the scene in his vehicle around 10:55 p.m. Sunday in the Jindong-myeon area of Masanhappo-gu, Changwon.

Officers had responded to a report that A was suspected of driving under the influence.

As A fled, one officer who tried to stop the vehicle was injured in the elbow.

Coast guard officers from Changwon, called in to assist, found the vehicle submerged in waters near Gwangam Port, about 3 kilometers from where the chase began.

Coast guard personnel pulled A from the water as he was sinking near the vehicle, and police arrested him on the spot.

The vehicle was secured with ropes to prevent it from drifting.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident.