A total of 16 people were injured on Wednesday when an SUV rammed into a restaurant at a rest area along an expressway in Gangneung, located in eastern South Korea, local authorities said.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:32 a.m. local time, according to local reports.

Police said the vehicle was driven by a man in his 80s, who accidentally pressed the accelerator, causing the SUV to surge forward and crash into the restaurant building.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, and six of the injured were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Fortunately, none of the injuries were reported to be life-threatening.

Authorities confirmed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Local police have launched an ongoing investigation to determine the full circumstances behind the incident.

This accident has raised renewed concerns about road safety and elderly drivers, particularly in high-traffic public areas like highway rest stops. (ILKHA)