Medication contained controlled psychotropic substances

A general view of the Busan Courts Complex. [Provided by Busan District Court]
A general view of the Busan Courts Complex. [Provided by Busan District Court]

A man in his 40s who caused a three-car pileup while impaired by antidepressants containing controlled psychotropic substances, injuring four people, has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Judge Lee Jun-min of Busan District Court's Criminal Division 6 sentenced the man, identified only as A, to one year in prison, suspended for two years, on charges of violating the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes — dangerous driving causing injury — and the Road Traffic Act.

A was indicted on charges of rear-ending a Palisade SUV stopped on a three-lane road in Busanjin-gu, Busan, at around 11:31 a.m. on July 9 last year.

Unable to properly operate the brakes while impaired by the medication, A struck the Palisade driven by a man in his 50s identified as B, who had been stopped ahead of him. The impact pushed B's vehicle into a K5 sedan driven by a woman in her 60s identified as C, which was stopped in front of B.

The collision left four people with injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment: B, C, and two passengers in A's vehicle. At the time, A had taken medication containing zolpidem and zopiclone, both classified as psychotropic substances.

"The defendant caused an accident while in a state unfit to drive due to drug use, injuring four victims, and has not reached a settlement with them — making his culpability grave," the judge said. The judge added that the sentence took into account A's prior convictions for traffic offenses, as well as mitigating factors including his confession and the partial compensation of damages through insurance on the rental vehicle involved.


ken@heraldcorp.com