Middle schooler accidentally shifts gear at motor show, injuring visitor

A middle school student accidentally nudged a gear lever while exploring an electric vehicle on display at a motor show, sending the car rolling into a visitor.

According to the South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency on Tuesday, a visitor identified only as B was struck by a display vehicle and injured at a motor show held in the parking lot of Yedan Tourism Farm in Yesan-gun, South Chungcheong Province, at around 3:10 p.m. on Saturday.

The student, identified only as A, a 14-year-old who had come to the show with his family, climbed into the driver's seat of an electric vehicle on display and began looking around the interior. He accidentally touched the gear lever, causing the car to lurch forward and strike B before hitting another display vehicle.

B managed to step aside when he saw the car moving and sustained only minor injuries.

In a police interview, A said he had mistaken the gear lever for the wiper control while looking around the interior and had not expected the car to move.

Police said they do not believe A intentionally drove the vehicle.

The event was organized by a car rental company, with about 80 vehicles on display. Visitors were allowed to look around the cars, and some could get inside to inspect the interiors or take test drives.

Investigators found that while the organizer had stationed safety personnel at the venue, no additional safety measures had been taken — such as placing wheel chocks under the display vehicles or cutting their power.

Police said the injuries could have been far more serious had B failed to move in time or fallen and been pinned under the car. Authorities plan to book an organizer representative on charges of negligent injury.