A YouTuber in his 40s has tragically passed away in a traffic accident while livestreaming his cross-country bicycle journey from Busan to Seoul.
According to reports from News1 and other outlets on June 3, the accident occurred on June 2 at around 1:30 PM on National Route 25 near Seongdong-ri, Nakdong-myeon, Sangju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Investigations revealed that a 3.5-ton truck traveling from Daegu toward Sangju collided with the bicycle ahead of it, and subsequently struck a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that was following behind.
As a result of the collision, the cyclist, a man in his 40s referred to as "A," was rushed to the hospital in a state of traumatic cardiac arrest but was ultimately pronounced dead. The driver of the SUV following behind also reportedly sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
"A" was an active creator on YouTube and other online broadcasting platforms. He was reportedly in the middle of a livestreamed mission to cycle across the country from Busan to Seoul within 72 hours.
Just a day before the accident, "A" had announced the upcoming live broadcast on his YouTube channel's community tab, writing, "A 44-year-old dad's challenge mission," and "Mission to arrive from Busan to Seoul in 72 hours." He also asked viewers for their support, writing, "I will give it my absolute all."
At the time of the accident, "A" was broadcasting live using his mobile phone, with approximately 150 viewers watching the stream. He was reportedly sharing the process in real-time, which included receiving donations upon successfully completing the cross-country journey.
The police are currently investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)