Driver in His 70s Acquitted of Hit-and-Run After Striking 8-Year-Old in Alleyway

A driver in his 70s who struck an 8-year-old elementary school student in an alleyway and continued driving has been acquitted of hit-and-run charges in the first trial.
The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. on January 10, 2024, in a narrow alleyway on Dobong-ro in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.
An 8-year-old girl, identified by her surname Kim, was walking while holding her grandmother's hand when she was struck by the passenger-side fender of a passing black SUV and fell to the ground.
Subsequently, the vehicle's front wheel rolled over the child's foot.
As a result of the accident, the girl suffered an ankle sprain and bruises requiring two weeks of medical treatment.
However, the driver, a 72-year-old identified as A, did not stop the vehicle and continued driving.
He parked his car in a villa parking lot approximately 178 meters away from the scene of the accident.
The girl's grandmother chased after him and confronted him, asking, "Why did you just drive away after hurting the child?"
The elderly driver, A, explained, "I was trying to make room for an oncoming vehicle and did not see the child, nor did I know an accident had occurred."
The girl's father strongly refuted the driver's excuse, stating, "The grandmother even shouted after the vehicle hit the child."
He added, "It makes no sense that he didn't know, considering you can hear even a small pebble hitting the car while driving," expressing his frustration.
The prosecution determined it was a hit-and-run accident.
They indicted A on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes, specifically for fleeing the scene after causing injury.
However, in June of last year, the Seoul Northern District Court, acting as the court of first instance, acquitted the defendant of the hit-and-run charge and dismissed the prosecution's case.
The court reasoned that while the hood of the vehicle driven by A was relatively high at 120 cm, the victim was short and light, making it possible that the driver was unaware of the accident.
The fact that there was almost no shaking of the vehicle after it struck the child also served as grounds for the acquittal.
The National Forensic Service also provided an opinion stating that while it appeared the defendant could have been aware of the accident based on the CCTV analysis, it was impossible to objectively and clearly determine his awareness.
The court added that if A had intended to flee, he would not have driven slowly and parked less than 200 meters away.
Regarding the additional charge of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents, the court could not proceed with the prosecution because the vehicle was covered by comprehensive insurance.
The prosecution appealed the first-instance ruling.
Following the second-instance trial held on the 17th, the appellate court's verdict is scheduled to be delivered on August 14.
(Photo: Provided by the girl's father, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.