SEONGNAM, South Korea – A city bus crashed into 31 other vehicles during the morning rush hour in South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province, injuring 70 people in a chain collision that stretched across several hundred meters. The crash occurred on November 11 near the Beolmal intersection in the Bundang district of Seongnam, south of Seoul.
The latest reported toll included 10 people seriously injured and 60 with minor injuries. All 70 injured people, including the bus driver, were reported to be in stable condition, with no life-threatening injuries.
Bus ploughs into traffic waiting at intersection
The accident happened at approximately 7:34 a.m. local time when a No. 340 city bus struck vehicles stopped at a traffic signal.
The collision involved 31 other vehicles: three additional buses, one cargo truck and 27 passenger cars. The bus continued moving for approximately 400 meters before hitting a central road barrier and stopping.
The impact damaged vehicles along the road and brought down a traffic light and a utility pole. Emergency responders deployed 88 personnel and 33 vehicles to assist victims and manage the scene.
Injury toll rises to 70
Authorities initially reported 57 injured people, including nine with serious injuries. The total increased to 70 the following day as additional people reported injuries and sought medical treatment.
The updated count included 10 seriously injured and 60 with minor injuries. Some people who were not immediately taken to hospital later reported pain and sought treatment independently.
Investigators examine possible brake failure
The bus driver, a man in his 60s, reportedly told investigators that the brakes had failed. Police confirmed that he had not been drinking, but said they were also investigating possible drug use and whether the driver might have mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
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The bus operator said the vehicle had passed a routine inspection before the journey and had shown no brake or equipment problems during its previous safety checks.
Investigators have not established the cause of the crash. Police sent the bus’s digital driving records, dashboard-camera footage and major vehicle components to South Korea’s National Forensic Service for examination.
The investigation will also use nearby surveillance footage and recordings from other vehicles to reconstruct the collision and determine whether a mechanical defect or driver error contributed to the accident.
Forensic investigation continues
The National Forensic Service has begun examining the damaged bus and its event data recorder. Investigators are also comparing it with another bus of the same model to help determine whether a technical malfunction occurred.
Police said they planned to question the driver formally after he recovered sufficiently from his injuries. Authorities are also awaiting forensic results from tests examining possible drug use.
The investigation remains open, and the driver’s account of brake failure has not been independently confirmed.
Primary Sources: South Korea National Fire Agency, November 11, 2026, emergency response and casualty information for the Bundang multi-vehicle collision, including the initial count of 57 injured people and deployment of emergency personnel; the agency’s original incident bulletin was not independently retrieved. Bundang Police Station, November 12–13, 2026, investigation updates concerning the examination of the bus’s digital driving records, dashboard-camera footage and vehicle components, and the investigation of possible brake malfunction, pedal misapplication and drug use; the complete original police briefing was not independently retrieved. National Forensic Service, November 13, 2026, forensic examination of the bus’s event data recorder and comparison with a vehicle of the same model, as reported in the investigation update; the original forensic report was not available.
