crime

2 killed after being hit by truck on expressway; driver arrested

7 Comments

A man and a woman were killed after they were hit by a truck on an expressway in Nagoya on Sunday morning.

According to police, the accident occurred at around 3 a.m. on National Route 23 in Midori Ward. TV Asahi reported that the man and woman, identified as restaurant owner Hideo Kobayashi, 70, and his employee Yuna Sakai, 27, were in the car that pulled over to the side of the expressway after they had a flat tire.

Police said that when they got out of the car and were inspecting the flat tire, they were hit by the truck coming from behind them.

Police arrested the 47-year-old driver of the truck on a charge of reckless driving resulting in death.

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7 Comments
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Texting while smoking. Police need to crack down on truckers. They simple do not obey road regulations, for example running red lights.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Agree with most on recklessness of many truck drivers in this country, but it’s not limited to Japan. Unfortunately it’s that silly mindset in Japan of drivers looking out for pedestrians (as it should be), however, pedestrians lack of caution and not looking for the dangers surrounding them is a major factor as well. I imagine the car was on the shoulder, but the two were standing near if not in the road and not concerned about the oncoming traffic. You see it every day here with people walking in that little area between the perfectly open sidewalk and white line where the road begins. Sorry for them and their family’s loss.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Such a tragedy, theres no reason why a truck should rear end a car on the hard shoulder. The hard shoulder is supposed to be a safe refuge for emergencies but history shows that it isn't...time and time again we see this sort of news, I advise my family if they have the same situation to get out of the car and off the hard shoulder as quickly as possible come what may rain hail or sunshine. The hard shoulder is not a safe refuge.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Such a tragedy, theres no reason why a truck should rear end a car on the hard shoulder.

True indeed but according to the report the car wasn't hit, the people were.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'm surprised they got hit by a truck on the hard shoulder, most trucks I see on the expressway dawdle along on the outside lane throwing pet bottles full of pee and conbini bombs out the window

0 ( +1 / -1 )

RE: Noirgaijin: " however, pedestrians lack of caution and not looking for the dangers surrounding them is a major factor as well" Sorry but in Japan if you drive your considered a "Professional driver" that's it, the law is very clear on that. Pedestrians have right of way. (Source: Japan's Traffic Laws) regardless of being on a shoulder or outside.

You must not disrupt the flow of oncoming traffic when making a right-hand turn. You should also watch for pedestrians crossing the street when making a right-hand turn. Pedestrians crossing the street at a crosswalk have right-of-way. Always be sure to check for pedestrians crossing the street. If there are any, be sure to stop and wait for them. When making a left-hand turn, you should watch out for motorcycles and bicycles to your left that are continuing straight in order to avoid problems. You should also watch out for pedestrians crossing the street.

Accidents and Liability Japanese law provides that all persons who drive in Japan are held liable in the event of an accident, and assesses fault in an accident on all parties. The police may determine, for example, that a given accident was 80% the fault of Driver A, and 20% the fault of Driver B. Fines, penalties and the like would then be split the same way, i.e., 80-20.

Drivers stopped for driving under the influence of drugs or alchohol will have their licenses confiscated. Persons found guilty of "drunken, speeding or blatantly careless driving that results in death" subject to up to 15 years in prison, tripling the previous maximum sentence. Japanese police are also permitted to contact financial institutions directly to determine an offenders financial status to combat evasion of payment for traffic violations.

The National Police Agency (NPA) oversees the administration and enforcement of traffic laws. Further information in English is available on the

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No details. But what I imagine is that they failed to put their hazard lights on but left the headlights and tail lights on, and the trucker thought they were in the center of the lane and aimed right at them. Could be way off, but that is what I imagine.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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