The Lebanese Ambassador to South Korea died in a car accident in central Seoul on Thursday, police and fire officials said.

A sedan carrying Jad Saeed El-Hassan, the top Lebanese diplomat in Seoul, rear-ended another car inside Namsan No. 3 Tunnel at about 12:08 p.m., according to Yongsan Police Station.

The ambassador, who had been driving the car, died on route to a nearby hospital. Two people in the other vehicle were injured, the officials said.

They said they are investigating the exact cause of the accident, including whether the ambassador was driving under the influence of alcohol.

The diplomat previously underwent questioning by Seoul police in September 2013 after allegedly speeding away from the scene after hitting a car in the Itaewon district of Seoul. (Yonhap)