[News Today] Poor safety management at marathons

[LEAD]
A promising marathon runner in his 20s was recently killed after being struck by a freight truck during a race. As running events surge in popularity, hundreds of marathons are now held nationwide each year. But the fatal accident is raising serious questions over inadequate safety measures, especially at smaller competitions.

[REPORT]
A relay marathon covering a 230-km route and lasting three days.

But there are no safety barriers along the road where the athletes run. Freight trucks pass by in the lane right next to the runners.

A one-ton truck approaches a runner from behind and hits him.

The athlete sustained serious injuries to his head and back, and passed away after about 20 days of hospital treatment.

Family of late Kim Jong-yun / (VOICE MODIFIED)
The accident was clearly caused by poor safety and traffic control measures. The athletes were not protected properly.

It was revealed that a local police station had warned of the high risk of accidents before the marathon.

It said that traffic was heavy on the marathon route and accidents were likely to occur due to the lack of traffic control personnel.

Some 400 marathons are held nationwide every year.

Small-scale races with fewer than a thousand runners are not required to devise safety management plans.

Prof. Sung Jong-hun / Inha University
Emergency response and road control are essential, but small races lack those measures.

Police have referred to prosecutors the truck driver who hit the marathon runner for alleged violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Settlement of Traffic Accidents and the marathon safety manager for alleged professional negligence resulting in death.

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