A streamer with a past in organized crime who was undertaking a cross-country cycling mission died in a traffic accident. Kyunghyang Shinmun file image

A well-known internet broadcaster with a past in organized crime was reportedly struck by a cargo truck and killed while live-streaming a cross-country bicycle ride.

According to News1 on the 3rd, a man in his forties, identified as A, who was riding a bicycle, was struck by a 3.5-ton cargo truck at about 1:30 p.m. on the 2nd on National Route 25 in Seongdong-ri, Nakdong-myeon, Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, heading from Daegu toward Sangju. The driver of the escorting SUV was also seriously injured in the crash. A was transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest but ultimately died.

A was live-streaming a mission with fans to ride a bicycle from Busan to Seoul in three days, and at the time of the accident was broadcasting on a mobile phone. Viewership reached about 150 people. The stream was structured so that if he completed the cross-country cycling mission within three days, he would receive a set amount of revenue.

Police regard the crash as caused by negligence by the truck driver and are investigating the exact circumstances based on dashcam footage and witness statements.