Seoul: A taxi driver in his late 70s was placed under emergency arrest Saturday over a deadly crash in central Seoul that killed one person after testing positive for morphine, police said. His electric taxi first struck a car on a street near Jonggak Station at around 6 p.m. Friday, then collided with a traffic pole at a crosswalk before hitting another vehicle and plowing into pedestrians.

According to Yonhap News Agency, police reported no signs of drunk driving but detected morphine in a preliminary drug test administered to the suspect. Authorities plan to request a detailed analysis from the National Forensic Service, as some cough medicines containing morphine could trigger a positive result in these preliminary tests.

The tragic incident resulted in the death of a woman in her 40s, while 13 others were injured. The injured included five pedestrians, three passengers in the taxi, and five individuals riding in two other vehicles. Fortunately, none of the injured are reported to be in critical condition, as per the authorities.

This crash has sparked renewed concerns over the increasing number of elderly taxi drivers, who may be more prone to accidents due to slower reaction times and age-related declines in vision and hearing. The Korea Transportation Safety Authority reveals that 53 percent of the 69,727 taxi drivers registered in Seoul are aged 65 and older.