Police filed for an arrest warrant Wednesday against the driver of a truck that struck rallygoers in Jinju on Monday, killing one and injuring two. The non-union driver in his 40s faces a murder charge for reckless actions amid claims that protesters blocked the vehicle. The union has accused police and CU operator BGF Retail of facilitating the incident.
A 2.5-ton truck struck participants in a cargo workers' rally under the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union on Monday near a CU convenience store logistics center in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, killing a union member in his 50s who suffered cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital, and injuring two others.
Police, who took the non-union driver in his 40s into custody at the scene on suspicion of causing bodily injury, determined he acted recklessly and applied a murder charge before filing for an arrest warrant on Wednesday. A police official said the driver did not stop after striking the victims and told investigators he "did not intend to hurt anyone and only tried to quickly leave the area."
Authorities believe the collision occurred as rallygoers tried to block the vehicle from exiting the site. Union members have accused police of recklessly facilitating trucks to leave during the rally and blamed BGF Retail, the CU operator, for refusing dialogue and oppressing the union.
On Tuesday, some 40 union members gathered outside the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency headquarters in nearby Changwon, demanding a meeting with the chief and clashing in a standoff until afternoon.
