A 70-year-old ready-mix concrete truck driver has suffered severe burns following an electrocution accident in Taean, South Chungcheong Province.

An investigation revealed that a crow was the catalyst for the incident.

According to the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and the Taean Police Station, a crow made contact with a utility pole next to a paved farm road on Tuesday (June 30), causing sparks to fly.

This contact caused a power line carrying 22,900 volts of electricity to snap.

As the ready-mix concrete truck was passing by at that moment, the severed power line fell onto the top of the vehicle. The high-voltage current surged into the truck, causing an explosion that blew out its tires.

Fire authorities, who were dispatched after receiving a report from a witness about a fire on the front tires of the vehicle, arrived to find the fire already extinguished. They discovered the 70-year-old driver lying on the ground with severe full-body burns and transported the victim to a hospital.

It was reported that while the driver was conscious and had a pulse at the time, the extent of the burns was critical.

The charred carcass of a crow was also reportedly found at the scene.

Police are currently investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.

(Source: Newsis, Taean Fire Station)