3 dead, 5 injured in crash involving truck carrying oil drums

CHANGWON, South Korea, Nov. 2 (Yonhap) -- A cargo truck carrying oil drums rammed into a concrete median barrier on a highway Thursday, causing dozens of drums to fall in the opposite lane and explode. Three people were killed and five others were injured, police said. The truck was carrying 70 drums of motor oil when the accident happened around 1:20 p.m. about 1 kilometer ahead a tunnel in the southeastern city of Changwon. After the crash, 35 drums fell onto cars in the opposite lane and burst into flames. Nine other cars were gutted in the flames. Those killed include the truck's driver. His identity was not immediately available as his body was damaged beyond recognition, police said. Earlier, police had said four people were killed, but later revised the toll to three. Police are conducting an investigation to figure out the exact cause of the crash. They obtained witness statements that the truck zigzaged before slamming into the median barrier. That suggests potential mechanical defects in the vehicle, such as brake failure. elly@yna.co.kr (END)