Drunk driver found asleep on roadside shoulder

Bystander in his 30s dragged while trying to wake him

Victim falls onto road, sustains injuries after 200-meter ordeal

Police charge suspect with dangerous driving causing injury, drunk driving

[123RF]
[123RF]

A man in his 40s who had fallen asleep at the wheel on a roadside shoulder after driving drunk dragged a bystander who tried to wake him about 200 meters before being arrested by police. He reportedly told investigators he fled because he feared being caught and punished for drunk driving.

The Cheongju Heungdeok Police Station in North Chungcheong Province said Tuesday it has booked the suspect, identified only as A, without detention on charges of dangerous driving causing injury under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act.

A is accused of driving a compact SUV while intoxicated on a road in Bongmyeong-dong, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

At the time, A had pulled over to the shoulder and fallen asleep in the driver's seat.

A bystander in his 30s, identified as B, approached the driver's side and tried to wake A, at which point A suddenly drove off, according to the investigation.

B was caught on the driver's side of the vehicle and dragged along with it.

A drove approximately 200 meters with B still clinging to the car.

B fell onto the road while being dragged and sustained injuries.

Police responded to B's call immediately after the incident, tracked down A and arrested him on the spot.

A told investigators he fled because he feared being reported for drunk driving and facing punishment, according to police.

Police are continuing to investigate the exact circumstances of the incident and how A came to drive drunk.


sjy@heraldcorp.com