Provincial maritime officer kills man in drunk driving accident

One person has been killed and another severely wounded after a Korea Coast Guard officer caused a car accident Monday while driving drunk in Wando, South Jeolla Province.

According to Wando police, a 35-year-old female officer from the West Regional Headquarters of the Korea Coast Guard driving a car hit two pedestrians at a crosswalk around 8:40 p.m. Monday. One of the victims, 55, suffered a head injury and died at the hospital, while the other, 49, had a broken leg and was hospitalized.

According to police, a breathalyzer test showed that the officer had a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent, which exceeded the legal limit of 0.05 percent. A reading of 0.05 percent means suspension of an offender`s license.

The victims, both of whom were crewmen, were leaving a convenience store and crossing a crosswalk with no traffic lights at the time of the accident.

shjung@donga.com