Driver Who Hit Pedestrian and Drove Away While Laughing Caught by Dashcam

A driver who hit a pedestrian while parking under the influence of alcohol and fled the scene has been given a suspended prison sentence after a dashcam recording proved their guilt, despite the driver claiming in court that they were unaware they had hit anyone.

The Jeonju District Court, presided over by Judge Kim Hyun-ji of the 6th Criminal Division, announced on July 10 that it sentenced the defendant, identified as A, to one year and two months in prison, suspended for three years, on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (hit-and-run resulting in injury) and the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving).

The defendant was charged with hitting a pedestrian, B, who was standing behind the vehicle while reversing in an apartment complex in Muju-gun, Jeonbuk, at approximately 8:47 p.m. on September 6 of last year. At the time, the defendant's blood alcohol concentration was 0.114%, a level sufficient for license revocation.

Despite the protests of B, who suffered injuries to their knee and foot, the defendant left the parking lot while laughing.

Even after standing trial for the incident, the defendant, through The Attorney, argued that "the victim did not suffer injuries that qualify as 'bodily harm' under criminal law," and that "even if there were injuries, the defendant had no awareness (of hitting the victim), so there was no intent to flee."

However, the dashcam in the defendant's vehicle contained audio and video evidence that told a completely different story.

The court confirmed that the rear-facing dashcam footage recorded continuous "beep" warning sounds as the vehicle approached the pedestrian and other objects at the time of the accident.

Furthermore, when B approached the vehicle suspecting drunk driving, the defendant was recorded saying, "That person is funny," clearly indicating that the defendant was aware of the person's presence behind the car, yet continued to attempt to park.

The court pointed out, "The victim has consistently stated that 'the defendant, who was driving under the influence, hit me and fled,' and this is consistent with the dashcam footage, making the testimony credible." The court added, "Given the extent of the injuries, such as the photos of the wounds taken by the victim, the defendant should have taken appropriate measures, such as providing aid after the accident."

The court further stated, "The defendant hit a pedestrian who was trying to stop them from driving drunk and even fled the scene, yet they showed no remorse and denied the charges with implausible excuses, making the nature of the crime poor." However, the court noted, "The sentence was determined by taking into account that the victim's injuries were relatively minor and that the defendant's vehicle was covered by comprehensive insurance, allowing for compensation to be made to the victim."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.