13-year-old girl on bike dies after being hit by truck

I hate these kinds of news. I hope her parents find peace and the driver can sleep. He had it bad too. I have seen first hand what these truck driver do, how they drive, and how they don't care about pedestrians. He should be locked up for a couple of years, have his license permanently revoked and not to mention, a fine plus the suit from the family. This should cost him a lot.

Poor girl, poor parents and careless truck driver .

All people, whether it in cars, on motorbikes, on foot, or on bikes need to pay far more attention. I see kids come out of no where on their bikes and crossing roads without even looking. They shouldn`t assume that everyone can stop on a dime just because they are on a bike and can never be at fault. Everyone should look three times including bikers.

I hate how big trucks often pass me on my bicycle with almost no room to spare.

can we just have a stop to these senseless accidents!!!! it now running once a week with children dying.

Not again?

If it isn't toddlers it's young teens being killed on the roads.

Poor girl and my heart goes out to her family.

turning left, the driver never checked his mirrors, if he had he would have stopped. I blame the driver.

I see these scum driving their huge trucks ALWAYS on their cellphones! Gabbing away behind the wheels of 18 wheelers, here in TOKYO! Like to use a baseball bat to knock some sense into these stupid bastard truck drivers here in Japan. RIP poor little girl up in Gunma.

Streets were designed for automobiles

I thunk you'll find there were plenty of streets well before the internal combustion engine was invented.

Too many news like this :( I think Traffic & Safety need to implement this everywhere (I've only seen a few): A green light just for pedestrians and bicyclists. Drivers will have to wait an extra minute or so but this should prevent accidental deaths. Obviously in Japan, moving trucks and moving kids/bicycles at the same time equals death.

It's time to equip cars and trucks with mandatory collision avoidance detection equipment. Many lives could be saved.

don't be so quick to blame the driver, I've seen on MANY occasions where cyclists don't stop OR look when turning at t-junctions

I don't know the whole story on this, but I can pretty much guess that she of course didn't have a helmet on. When will Japan change some laws? I am thinking.....never i agree... it's NOT always the drivers fault, but you really think the police will actually give some percentage to the rider? that's why they have that stupid law... " negligent driving resulting in death". It's one of those catch all laws... They automatically say it's the drivers fault...

She could have run her bike at full speed against a red pedestrian light (still green for cars) and come out of a blind area. She might have not been able to stop and run her bike into the back of the truck like the girl on the skateboard did recently.

No details here YET AGAIN that really make it possible to say any thing else than condolences.

Duke - It is always the dtiver's fault regardless of circumstances. I have seen the scenario many times. The truck driver screams up to the intersection and just swings it in expecting anyone in the scissors to give way. Pedestrians always have the right of way, contrary to the general attitude of drivers in Japan.

turning left, the driver never checked his mirrors, if he had he would have stopped. I blame the driver.

Because you were there and saw what happened. Ya know, sometimes, an accident, really is an accident.

Every 2 minutes, someone in the world is killed in an auto related accident. In big cities, like NYC and Tokyo the majority of people who die are pedestrians or cyclists who are struck by cars. In addition to being, let's face it, deadly, they are very often unnecessary in large cities where there are alternative transportation options. We can either, continue, as is, and turn over the cities and streets to automobiles and accept the deaths that will inevitably occur as the price of "progress", or we can show more regard for life. Pedestrians and cyclists should reclaim the streets in cities by creating more car-free zones or by encouraging policies that discourage more drivers from owning/using cars in cities (more tolls, higher parking fees, more safe bike lanes and sidewalks that narrow roads).

I live in a place very similar to Isesaki, and I fully believe that it's extremely unlikely this was the girl's fault. Of course, as some posters have pointed out, it's impossible to say for certain because of lacking details in this article, but Gunma drivers are atrocious. As another poster mentioned, if you see one of these trucks wheeling through city roads, 7 times out of 10 they're on their keitais. And drivers in Gunma, not just trucks, are absolutely notorious for not checking for bikes, joggers or walkers as they swoop into combini parking lots, make turns or blow through the first 2 or 3 seconds of a red light (which happens at almost EVERY red light).

Besides, as disillusioned pointed out, the pedestrian ALWAYS has the right of way. If you're piloting over two tons of rapid moving steel, it's YOUR responsibility to make sure no one is in your way. That's part and parcel to the privilege of driving.

It is always the dtiver's fault regardless of circumstances.

According to the authorities anyway. Has everyone forgotten that you are not supposed to ride your bike across a pedestrian crossing? This story is the reason why!

In the U.S. there are laws for youth to wear bike helmets. Under 18/16 in most states. Not so in Japan eh? I'm willing to bet this girl wasn't wearing a helmet and might be alive still if she had been... still doesn't excuse how careless and deadly the truck driver drove. Sad. RIP

How about a little more accountability from the parents? I am tired of people having kids and then expecting me to babysit because they want the kids out of their hair. How about acturally taking the time to teach the kids to ride safely? How about charging some of the parents with child neglect when they let their children play in the streets and then wonder why they get run over? I can tell there are a lot of public transportation fans and non drivers on this forum from the comments. I like my car and the freedom that comes with it. Streets were designed for automobiles, if you want to peddle your A$$ on the same street, obey the traffic laws.