Driver who plowed into Anseong flea market, killing 2, faces detention ruling Monday

A man in his 60s who drove a one-ton truck into a flea market in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, killing two people and injuring five, faces a detention ruling Monday. The driver initially told police he had mistaken the accelerator for the brake, but later changed his account, claiming the vehicle had suddenly accelerated on its own.

According to the Anseong Police Station, the Pyeongtaek Branch of Suwon District Court is scheduled to hold a pre-detention hearing at 11 a.m. Monday for the suspect, identified only as A, on charges of causing death and injury under the Act on Special Cases Concerning Traffic Accidents. A ruling on whether to issue the arrest warrant is expected later that afternoon.

A is accused of driving a one-ton truck into a flea market held at Gongdo No. 10 Children's Park in front of the Gongdo Library in Gongdo-eup, Anseong, at around 11:18 a.m. Saturday, killing two people and injuring five others.

The two victims who died were a mother and child — a woman in her 40s and a teenager.

Police arrested A at the scene on the day of the accident and applied for an arrest warrant the same day.

A, a contract worker employed by the Anseong city government, told police immediately after the crash that he had confused the accelerator with the brake. He later reversed course, claiming the vehicle had experienced sudden unintended acceleration.

Police have requested a detailed forensic examination of the vehicle from the National Forensic Service as part of their investigation into whether sudden unintended acceleration was a factor.

Police said they plan to continue building their case once a decision on A's detention is made.