An Actyon sports utility vehicle (SUV) struck and killed an 8-year-old elementary school student, identified as Boy A, on a road near the Chamber of Commerce in Sammun-dong, Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, at around 4:03 PM today (October 15).

Boy A was transported to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead at around 5:16 PM today.

The accident site was confirmed to be a school zone located near an elementary school.

Police investigations revealed that the driver, a man in his 70s identified as B, struck Boy A while making a right turn at an intersection with a flashing yellow traffic light.

Boy A was reportedly crossing a pedestrian crosswalk without a traffic light at the time of the accident. Police believe that B violated pedestrian protection duties in the school zone, such as failing to come to a complete stop.

Investigators confirmed that B was not under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or driving without a license.

Police have booked B under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes for causing death in a child protection zone and are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident, including the vehicle's speed at the time of the crash.

(Photo: Yonhap News)