Hit-and-Run: Illegal Thai Immigrant Booked for Striking Elementary Student with Electric Scooter

Already in Detention for a Separate Drug Case
Victim Child at Risk of Losing Three Permanent Teeth

An illegal immigrant who drove an electric scooter without a license, struck an elementary school student, and fled the scene has been apprehended by the police. The man was already in police custody due to a separate drug-related case and was being held in a detention center.

According to Yonhap News Agency on October 2, Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju has booked a 36-year-old Thai national, identified as Mr. A, on charges including causing injury while fleeing the scene under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes.

Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station Exterior View

Mr. A is accused of hitting a third-grade elementary school girl with his electric scooter near Exit 4 of Dosan Station in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, at around 4:30 p.m. on September 23, and fleeing the scene without providing any assistance. Mr. A had already been arrested by Mokpo Police Station on September 28 for drug use and was taken into custody on October 1. The police identified Mr. A while he was in the Mokpo Police Station detention center and proceeded to investigate the hit-and-run incident.

Initially, Mr. A denied being involved in the incident. However, after continued questioning by the police, he admitted to hitting the child and fleeing the scene. Mr. A, whose stay visa in Korea had expired, stated to the police that he ran away because he was afraid his illegal status would be discovered after the accident, as he was driving the electric scooter without a license. The police plan to decide on further action regarding Mr. A's custody as soon as the investigation is completed.

This case sparked public outrage online, after the victim’s parents posted an appeal for eyewitness accounts on an internet community.

The victim’s father claimed, “Even as my daughter was bleeding heavily, with her teeth knocked out and broken, two individuals who appeared to be foreign workers—a man and a woman—simply fled the scene.” He continued, “My child’s prognosis is currently not good. Three teeth, all permanent, are at risk of being lost.” He also publicly shared characteristics of the scooter, as described by his son who witnessed the accident, and asked for information.

Following this, the police identified Mr. A as the suspect. It was also reported that the Thai woman who had been riding the electric scooter with Mr. A at the time of the accident informed the police of her intention to turn herself in.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.