뉴스 11 dead in 29-car crash on a west coast bridge

[매직리나]

Key words and expressions

* involved in   ~에 관계되다. ~에 연루되다

* chain-reaction collision   연속충돌사고

* leave  ~의 결과를 초래하다 (= result in)

* envelope   둘러싸다

* extent of   ~의 범위

* carnage    대학살. 즐비한 시체

* rear-end collision   뒤쪽에서 충돌이 일어나는 것을 뜻함

* north-bound   북(쪽)행 (여기서는 서울행을 의미함)

* forcing   어쩔 수 없이 ~하게 하다

* In addition   게다가

* roll up   ~뭉게뭉게 올라가다

* blackened   그을린

* groan   신음소리를 내다

* fracture   골절. 부러지다. 삐다

* collided with   ~와 충돌하다

* rolling over   전복하다. 구르다

* here and there   여기저기에서

October 04, 2006 ㅡ PYEONGTAEK, Gyeonggi ― Twenty-nine vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction collision on the Seohae Grand Bridge yesterday morning, leaving 11 people dead and another 54 injured.

The bridge, on the West Coast Expressway near this city south of Seoul, was enveloped in heavy fog when the problems began just before 8 a.m. yesterday, according to the Korea Highway Corporation. Authorities blamed excessive speed for the extent of the carnage, in which 12 vehicles caught fire after the series of rear-end collisions in the north-bound lanes.

Highway officials said a 25-ton truck collided with a 1-ton truck ahead of it on the bridge, forcing the smaller vehicle into the adjoining lane where most of the succeeding collisions occurred. In addition to passenger cars and vans, two trucks, a bus and a car-carrier tractor-trailer were involved.

After the impacts, at least 12 vehicles burst into flames. Smoke rolled up from the blackened and twisted vehicles as injured survivors groaned.

Kim Jeong-ja, 40, suffered fractures in the accident. "There was a truck in front of our van, not moving and without emergency flashers. We collided with it. Then I could see cars rolling over here and there," she said. "All I could do was run away."

Kim Hye-soo, another victim, said, "There was a thick fog, so we put on the brakes when we felt a crash from the rear. That’s all I remember," she concluded.

Police and emergency squads, including 20 fire engines, spent nearly eight hours clearing the wreckage. The injured survivors were sent to hospitals in Pyeongtaek.

Traffic, much heavier than normal because of the Chuseok holiday, was snarled until both the north- and southbound lanes were reopened about 3:30 p.m.

Police said speeding drivers are often tempted by the long, straight expanse of the 7.3-kilometer (4.2-mile) bridge, which connects Pyeongtaek with Dangjin county, South Chungcheong province, over an arm of the Yellow Sea. The bridge and the highway have a posted speed limit of 110 kilometers (66 miles) per hour, but with visibility reduced to an estimated 60-80 meters yesterday morning, vehicles should have been traveling at only about half the posted speed, and with their headlights on.

A highway official said the area near the bridge is fog-shrouded in the morning about 30-50 days per year.

Kim Gwang-su, 35, survived the accident but watched his older brother, Kim Gwang-min, die in his arms. The brothers were traveling to meet their oldest brother, Kim Gwang-sun, a fisherman in Dangjin. In separate cars, the younger brother was only slightly injured, but found his older brother crushed between his car’s steering wheel and seat. "Help me get out," he cried, but Mr. Kim’s efforts were unsuccessful. He had lost consciousness by the time rescue squads arrived 10 minutes later, and died shortly thereafter. "I hate myself so much," the younger man said bitterly.

A mother, whose name could not be determined, lost her only son, Song Min-gu, 13. They were on a bus from Gunsan, North Jeolla province, heading for Seoul for the holidays. The bus burst into flames after the accident; trapped inside, the pair was rescued by an unidentified man, but Min-gu died from injuries to his head. The mother survived but sat at the scene, grief-stricken and calling her son’s name.

[knockout]

You do a really great job. Thank you so much.

[매직리나]

^^