Jeju: A van driven by a 62-year-old struck pedestrians and rammed into a sign post on an island off the southern resort island of Jeju on Monday, leaving three people dead and 10 others injured, officials said. The accident took place shortly after the vehicle disembarked from a ferry on Udo Island and accelerated for approximately 150 meters before colliding with a sign post near a ferry waiting room.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Jeju Dongbu Police Station and the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters reported that a 60-something woman inside the vehicle and two male pedestrians, in their 70s and 60s respectively, were airlifted to a hospital due to severe injuries but were later pronounced dead. The driver, along with nine other individuals, sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious and were transported to the hospital for treatment.

Officials confirmed that all victims were South Korean tourists and that six people were aboard the van at the time of the accident. A witness stated that the vehicle came to a stop only after hitting the pedestrians and ramming into the sign post.

Police have verified that the driver, who was also a tourist, was not under the influence of any substances. The investigation is ongoing as authorities look into the exact cause of the accident, including the possibility of sudden unintended acceleration.