A five-vehicle chain collision occurred today (the 29th) at around 2:19 p.m. in the first lane at the 73-kilometer mark toward Cheonan on the Honam Expressway, between the East Gwangju Tollgate and the Munheung Junction in Buk-gu, Gwangju, when a 1-ton truck driven by a man in his 20s, surnamed A, rear-ended a passenger car ahead of it.

The impact pushed the passenger car forward into an SUV, which subsequently caused a chain reaction as a 6-tonne truck and another SUV stopped ahead were also struck in sequence, resulting in a five-vehicle pileup.

Three people sustained minor injuries in the accident, including a man in his 70s who was driving the passenger car, a passenger in the car, and a man in his 60s who was driving the SUV. They were transported to a hospital and are currently receiving treatment.

Authorities determined that driver A was neither under the influence of alcohol nor drugs at the time of the incident.

Police believe that driver A failed to properly look ahead in a congested traffic section and are currently investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the accident.

(Photo provided by Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Fire Headquarters, Yonhap News)