Jeju: A van struck pedestrians and rammed into a sign post on an island off Jeju on Monday, leaving three people dead and 10 injured, officials said.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the accident occurred after the vehicle, driven by a 60-something individual, disembarked from a ferry on Udo Island in Jeju Province. The van traveled at high speed before crashing into the sign post near a ferry waiting room, as reported by the Jeju Dongbu Police Station and the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters.

A woman in her 60s inside the van and two male pedestrians, one in his 70s and another in his 60s, were transported to the hospital via helicopters due to severe injuries but were later pronounced dead.

The driver and nine others sustained both minor and serious injuries and were also taken to the hospital for treatment.

Officials disclosed that six people, including the driver, were in the van at the time of the accident, and most of the victims were identified as South Korean tourists.

A witness reported that the vehicle halted only after hitting pedestrians and crashing into the sign post. Police are currently investigating the precise cause of the accident, including the possibility of sudden unintended acceleration.