Prosecutors Seek 7-Year Sentence for Taxi Driver Who Caused Patient's Death
Prosecutors on September 23, 2020, sought a seven-year prison term at a sentencing hearing (a trial in which prosecutors ask the court to determine the sentence) at the Seoul Eastern District Court for taxi driver Choi, 31 at the time, who was indicted in custody on charges including aggravated assault for deliberately blocking an ambulance and causing the death of a terminally ill cancer patient being transported. Prosecutors noted that Choi initially denied the crime during early questioning, claiming he had let the patient be transported first by 119 emergency services, before confessing, and that he showed an attitude of no fault for some of his actions even in court. They also said Choi had a prior record of a contact accident with a private ambulance in 2017, and that had he been punished then, this tragedy would not have occurred.
The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. on June 8, 2020, on a road in Godeok-dong, Gangdong District, Seoul. A private ambulance carrying an 80-year-old terminally ill cancer patient suffering from breathing difficulties collided with a taxi while changing lanes. The ambulance driver handed over his business card, suggesting they go to the hospital first with the emergency patient and settle the matter afterward. But Choi refused. Black box footage released by the bereaved family showed Choi blocking the ambulance, saying 'If you want to go, run me over' and 'I'll call 119.' Even after learning an emergency patient was on board, Choi blocked the ambulance's path for about 11 minutes, and the patient, who was belatedly taken to the hospital, died about five hours after arriving at the emergency room.
Choi had been indicted in July 2017 for deliberately ramming a private ambulance and threatening to file a complaint unless he was paid 500,000 won. He was also charged with collecting some 20 million won in settlement money and medical expenses over six incidents from 2015 to 2019, targeting drivers of charter buses, company taxis, and trucks on the pretext of contact accidents. Prosecutors indicted Choi in custody on charges including aggravated assault, aggravated property damage, obstruction of business, and violation of the Special Act on Insurance Fraud Prevention, but did not apply murder or aggravated assault causing death charges to hold him responsible for the patient's death.
The first-instance court sentenced Choi to two years in prison, stating that his repeated deliberate accidents and insurance fraud and settlement scams on the pretext of contact accidents over a long period constituted extremely poor criminal character. The court reasoned that deliberately causing a contact accident with a private ambulance and interfering with patient transport even after confirming an emergency patient was on board deserved condemnation. However, it did not factor in the emergency patient's death in sentencing, ruling that causation between the death and Choi's actions was not subject to indictment and thus outside the court's scope of judgment.
Choi appealed, arguing the sentence was too heavy, and submitted 25 letters of reflection during the appeal proceedings. The appellate court sentenced him to one year and 10 months in prison, two months less than the original ruling, citing his admission of the crime and settlement with the other party's insurance company, and the sentence was finalized as neither side filed a further appeal.
On August 11, 2021, three bereaved family members filed a 50 million won damages lawsuit against Choi, and the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court ruled that he must pay 30 million won.
