Police in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, said Sunday they have arrested a 20-year-old woman on suspicion of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury after the car she was driving crashed into another vehicle, killing its driver. A third car was caught up in the accident and its driver was seriously injured.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday. Police said the suspect, Nanami Kuribara, a part-time worker, had been drinking with a friend and was on her way home when she hit a car in the opposite lane head-on, Fuji TV reported. The 78-year-old driver of that car, Kazuyoshi Sato, suffered extensive injuries and died later in hospital. The crash impacted a third vehicle driven by a 68-year-old man who sustained serious injuries.
Police said Kuribara kept driving for about 100 meters before stopping and abandoning her car, after which she called 110. She was quoted by police as saying she was afraid because she had been drinking heavily.
© Japan Today
27 Comments
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Daryl
drink driving, manslaughter, hit and run. Lock her up for many years, and she should be sued by the survivor.
Pukey2
I NEVER rely on the green pedestrian light when a car is about to turn. I have the right to cross, but unfortunately many drivers don't think so.
pudus
"dangerous driving"
I seen one blatantly run a red light in a large truck in a school zone, not far from a lowban.
Its getting to the point where you have to pause on a green light to let the late runners go first , the have no regard, and act like the roads belong to them.
Ken Wyatt
Common sense should be a prerequisite before getting anywhere near a steering wheel.
Pukey2
So why did she drive after drinking heavily. Some people might be tempted after one small glass, but heavily? She deserves everything coming to her.
sir_bentley28
This is a perfect example to show that there are 2 different justice systems. I remember a certain female celebrity was drinking and driving while VERY drunk, hit and injured pedestrians after running a red light and just kept going, but paid a fine and had her license temporary taken away.
How the justice handled this 20 year old lady is how ALL drunk drivers are to be handled regardless of popularity, income or looks. You commit a crime, you get jail time. No exemptions.
3RENSHO
"Police said Kuribara kept driving for about 100 meters before stopping and abandoning her car..."
The driver was forced to stop because the vehicle (TOYOTA Vellfire) had only 3 wheels after the crash -- the impact tore off the right front wheel and suspension components.
Goodlucktoyou
If I was to drinking until 5am, I would sleep in the car and have coffee in the nearest combini around midday.
Vince Black
She’s done. No more driving, working (any scraps that she does earn will go straight to her victims family) and I would presume drinking again for her. Give her a long time in jail to think about that.
Do the hustle
It amazes me that people still drink and drive with no concern about other drivers or pedestrians and they think they can get away with it. This is the problem with the Japanese police having highly publicized blitzes during social calendar events but have very few RBTs during the off seasons. People believe they will get away with it and very often do. This reckless individual has probably been driving home drunk every Friday night since she got her license.
Zaphod
Drunk driving... no excuse.
JerseyDevil
@jalan5
Gunma: 155 infected 19 deaths, not so bad quite low.
fuzzylogic
"she hit a car in the opposite lane head-on" "kept driving for about 100 meters before stopping"
that car is pretty rugged I might say.
Bugle Boy of Company B
I didn’t know. That’s unfortunate because some people haven’t enough money to cover expenses for the deceased victims.
jalan5
ahh "Gunma Prefecture" is a class of itself.
rgcivilian1
No brainer there, with as much don't drink and drive, the taxi service, the take your car home, friend pick me up. but my question is who let her leave the area as drunk as she was in the first place, so some blame needs to go there too. Condolences for all involved. Imagine if that was your family that was killed because of the choices and no forward thinking all around except the poor victims. The 3rd vehicle could have been speeding, but possibly an investigation will identify yes or no.
Chottobaka
5:30AM? So after drinking all night this idiot thinks it's OK to get behind the wheel? This is such egregious disregard for human life. Lock her up and throw away the key. There is no excuse whatsoever for this.
Bob Fosse
You’re all over the place. What’s your BAC?
Mirai Hayashi
manslaughter...she just threw away the best part of her life, that is...unless the stupid justice system gives her a suspended system like it usually does.
Opinionator
I doubt that is what she said but it was definitely the alcohol that caused the crash. I know that even without any BAC numbers. It was not drowsiness from being up past 5 a.m. It was not road conditions as no sober accident ever happens on this perfectly planned Japanese roads. It was not fear of massive punishment for DUI either, nor did that have any influence on her timing in choosing dawn to drive home, which is the worst time after dusk. No. It was the alcohol. Period. Case closed.
twinans
She should not have been driving after drinking heavily. Common sense goes out the window when a person is intoxicated. In her mind, she more than likely felt, that she was fine to drive.
It's best if people always had a plan on how they will get home if the "know" they will be drinking.
I do not drink because there is absolutely no benefit in it for me.
Bugle Boy of Company B
Hopefully she was driving with insurance.
towingtheline
@jalan5 what a classes comment.
Gunma is a stunningly beautiful prefecture.
towingtheline
Classless
Strangerland
Yes, it's a pretty prefecture for sure.