Police conducted a search and seizure of a truck waste collection company, identified as the first source of gunfire in connection with a fire accident on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway in Gwacheon City, in which five people died.
South Gyeonggi Police Agency 2nd Gyeonggi Expressway Soundproof Tunnel Fire Accident Investigation Headquarters announced on the 1st that it had conducted a search and seizure of waste collection company A by sending about 10 investigators from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm the previous day.
The police intend to seize and analyze various materials such as company A’s safety and health record to identify the cause of the fire, which was the 5 tonne waste hauler which caused the fire.
In addition, we intend to investigate the possibility of fire due to deterioration of vehicles and ignition due to lack of maintenance.
Previously, on the 30th of last month, the police conducted an on-site identification in conjunction with the National Institute for Scientific Research and the fire department to collect and analyze the three types of debris, including the the vehicle battery and electrical wiring of the lorry which was on fire.
In addition, the driver of the lorry that caused the fire was charged with careless negligence on the job and was summoned twice for questioning.
A police officer said, “We will focus on finding the cause of the accident by analyzing data obtained through the search and seizure and investigating the people involved.”
On December 29, last year, at around 1:49 pm, a fire of unknown cause broke out in a 5-ton waste transport truck in the soundproof tunnel section near the Bukuiwang IC of the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway in Galhyeon-dong, Gwacheon-si.
Immediately after the fire started, the fire quickly spread from the truck as it moved to the ceiling and walls of the soundproof tunnel.
The fire burned a 600m section of the 830m soundproof tunnel until it was fully extinguished at 4:12pm, around 2 hours later. As a result, 5 people died and 41 others were injured. Three of the injured are in a serious condition.
A blocking facility was installed in the soundproof tunnel to prevent vehicles from entering in the event of an accident, but it is known that the blocking facility did not work as the electricity supply was cut off due to a fire at the time of the accident.
[ 경기신문 = 박진석 기자 ]
