Two K-pop stars killed after band's car crashes on rain-soaked highway
A second member of a popular South Korean K-pop band has died from injuries sustained in a car accident, her management said on Sunday.
A second member of a popular South Korean K-pop band has died from injuries sustained in a car accident, her management said on Sunday.
Kwon Ri-sae, 23, who took the stage name Rise, died this morning at a hospital in Suwon, south of Seoul.
This came after fellow Ladies’ Code band member Go Eun-bi, 22, died after a van carrying the group crashed into a guard rail on a rain-drenched highway near Seoul.
Kwon had been unconscious after undergoing hours of emergency brain surgery following Wednesday’s accident, according to agency Polaris Entertainment spokeswoman Kim Eun-kyung.
Earlier, the management company issued a public statement saying: “Around 1.30am in Suwon, an issue occurred, with the car’s back wheel coming off. With the rainy road and wheel coming off, the vehicle spun several times, hitting a guardrail.”
Police suspect that the van driver may have been speeding on the wet road to meet a tight schedule.
The National Forensic Service is currently investigating the accident.
Inspector Lee Ho-dong said the police would call in the driver, who was treated for a mild injury, for more questioning.
Another member of the five-member girl band fractured her jaw and two others suffered minor injuries.
Media reports quoted the Polaris statement as saying n particular that its main vocalist, Lee So-jung, was injured and in hospital, while band leader Ashley (Choi Bit-na) and sub-vocalist Zuny (Kim Joo-mi) who were also in the car did not receive serious injuries.
