crime

3 killed, 4 injured in car accident involving 83-yr-old driver

44 Comments

Three people were killed and four injured in a traffic accident in Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, on Monday night, police said Tuesday.

According to police, the accident took place at around 6 p.m. at an intersection on Route 40 when the 83-year-old driver of a car containing six passengers attempted to turn right and was hit by an oncoming truck, TV Asahi reported.

Police said three passengers were killed at the time of the collision, two women in their 70s and one 82-year-old man. Four others are reported to have sustained injuries, some of them serious.

Police have arrested the car's elderly driver, identified as Tsutae Takamoto, and are questioning him to find out what happened.

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44 Comments
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83, eh? Well, guess the old dude didn't see the truck approaching. The age factor probably explains everything.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Sad story for sure.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It really is a very sad story. I bet the man was stressed out by all the crinkly senbei cracker wrappings and chatting with lots of neeeee.

RIP people. And police, please let the man go. He has gone through enough already.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

6 passengers? A car? Was it an overloaded car or a minivan? Obviously this old fella misjudged the timing of his turn or just expected the truck to stop for him. Either way, it does stress the point about competency tests for elderly drivers. I think they should have to take a test at least three time a year over seventy years old. I understand many elderly people have no other means of transport, but they should not be driving if they cannot do it confidently or without endangering the lives of the passengers or other drivers and pedestrians.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I intend not to drive when am 83, at least not anwhere where there is traffic.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Very tragic. I wonder about the safety systems in the car. I wonder what kind of car they were driving that offered so little protection.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Disillusioned wrote above: "I think they should have to take a (driving) test at least three times a year over seventy years old." This would be difficult to do out in the countryside where most of your farmers appear to be over 70. They need to drive to keep their farms in operation. They don't have time for the three times a year stuff. Not only the farmers, but other oldsters who live in the countryside depend on their cars for transportation ... otherwise they must stay close to home.

And if you have ever traveled through the deep countryside in Japan, what you see mostly is old people. Most of the young ones have moved to the big cities to work and live. As a result, we see many aged drivers in the countryside.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

What a aging society.......

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Very dumb suggestion for the over 70 to take a 3 times a year driving test. I took the required test for driver license renewal and it suffices. There are reflex tests and a drivers course to go through. Many factors lead to accidents and all ages are involved. Elderly driving accidents seem to stand out in the news but are much different than younger drivers who drive reckless above the speed limits and also cause fatalities.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Peripheral vision and spatial frequency coherence are the first things to go; he either misjudged the oncoming vehicle's speed or didn't even see it at all.

Nice post, edojin. The need for elderly to continue driving is understood, but it would be best if they restrict it to the countryside, where the above two skills are not so required. Many countries have farm licenses that allow minors to operate vehicles in restricted methods; perhaps such a license would do well for the elderly in Japan.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

edojin - This would be difficult to do out in the countryside where most of your farmers appear to be over 70. And if you have ever traveled through the deep countryside in Japan, what you see mostly is old people.

だから なんだ??? (So what?) Therefor, what you are saying is, don't drive in the countryside? Or, let old people drive regardless of the danger to other people? And, BTW, I have traveled through the 'deep countryside' many times and it is a gamble!

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Yet another accident created by a senior. It's sad all around, because age is obviously the main factor, and BECAUSE of the man's age there's also likely nothing that can be done by way of punishment. Wrong place, wrong time... although I'm seriously starting to think there should be no license after a certain age, and the stats are backing that up.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

No driving after age 50. Would be much safer out there.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

80 year-olds need to surrender their driver's license. Everyone will eventually be in the "old age" group. Vision tests and the driver training industry must want these people to be re-certified at least every three years.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

There is nothing to suggest that the cause of the accident is the old man.

That's what people say in almost every INDIVIDUAL case that involves really old drivers. C'mon people, we all know that MOST elderly people, especially over the age of 80, do everything more slowly and start to become a tad absent-minded. I don't believe that getting behind the wheel of a vehicle magically gives them back the reflexes they once had.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

What a tragedy. And it seems like comments against old people driving are getting lots of thumbs down.

But let's face it -- Japan really needs to keep people off the road if they're no longer able to drive safely. I'd venture to say almost all people over 70 years old have no business being behind the wheel. Only a select few over 60 years old have the capacity to continue driving.

Click thumbs down if you agree!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Some folk are just way too old to be behind the wheel of any motorized vehicle, this proves my point. RIP??

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Whilst the country is controlled by very old dinosaurs, do not expect any common sense laws or regulations to make renewing the license of aged drivers more demanding...

4 ( +6 / -2 )

JapanGal

chatting with lots of neeeee

LOL undoubtedly there was lots of Ne! Ne! nne! ねっっ!Can't stand that about old people here.

The other thing I can't stand is old people driving. Yep! Here we go again. ANOTHER accident caused by the incapacity and stupidity of a じじいdriver. He should be charged with manslaughter. RIP ne

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Having read the previous posts I'm surprised that everyone is laying the blame on the individual making the right turn. Given the habit of running red lights, especially when there is a green turn right arrow, I would definitely be looking at the other individual to lay the blame on. Nothing can be done when this is the case. We are all at risk, age not withstanding.

S

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Very very sad news, I feel sorry for the old guy and his family It doesn't suggest that the old guy was at fault but if he was younger maybe his reactions would have been faster and escape the truck. I do believe you can be too old to drive and your reactions are slower, in every way I see many older guys, driving slower than a tractor and there noses pressed up against the windscreen, anyone seen that, funny till and accident happens. I ask my friends, if you see me drive like that take my keys away! By the way tokyokawasaki, awesome profile pic

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Very sad, but incredibly age-ist! Without all the facts, the story headline already implies that age is the main factor "accident involving 83-yr-old driver".

We all know for a fact that truck drivers are never aggressive behind the whell and obey traffic signs and lights religiously, so there is absolutely no suspicion there, right?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I pressed the acceleration mistakenly to break pedal. Gomennasaii...I am extremly Sorry.

I have heard this enough. This is their Excuses.

You Police..Take the responsibility..

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Take the test once every two years once over 70.

Insert comment about not having to pay pensions...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Old drivers don't bother me - I've seen too many terrible young drivers.

But, I know an over 70 yr old woman who boasts about how fast she drives on the expressway. And she can hardly navigate an elevator. Scary. But we'll have to get used to it with all the 75 plus kids driving their aged 90"s and centenarian parents around.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I had a similar near miss the other day riding around with a Japanese gentlmen about the same age. Thing was, the oncoming truck saw us, but did not slow down, just kept barrelling on towards and then made a sharp turn into the opposite lane to avoid us. True the driver in the car I was in didn't see the truck, but the truck driver was well aware of us and didn't even try to slow down. It's scary driving here sometimes. Especially with the younger drivers texting on their phones.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

There is nothing to suggest that the cause of the accident is the old man.

There were two drivers. Only one has been reported as being arrested. It was the old man.

I'd call that quite a suggestion that he was the cause! Not proof, but it counts as a suggestion!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Annual testing after age of 70....must happen

4 ( +4 / -0 )

A group suicide gone wrong ....perhaps ?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As it is here, you can drive at 18 while it is 16 in many other countries. Indeed the young can be dangerous but they pay a higher insurance rate if I am not mistaken and they have to renew after a year or two. This continues until they get gold where they get an eye test and the like every five. Five years is a long time in terms of eyesight for someone over 70! Let's not even start on reflexes and the like. It is dangerous to allow these people on the road without yearly/biyearly tests.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

drinking ? some people shouldn't drive at night

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Please, some balance here; bad driving in Japan is across the demographic spectrum.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There is nothing to suggest that the cause of the accident is the old man.

There were two drivers. Only one has been reported as being arrested. It was the old man.

I'd call that quite a suggestion that he was the cause! Not proof, but it counts as a suggestion!

It counts as a state of affairs, but doesn't lend any light to why he was arrested. He may well be completely at fault, but would you convict him based on the detail in the story?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I just find it interesting that he was arrested BEFORE he was questioned. Did they have the trial as he was getting out of the wreck? Way to do things backwards, J-Cops!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I just can't believe you people. Discriminating against the old and being 50 isn't old... Before jumping into conclusions the full story needs to be obtained. An investigation preformed. The truck driver could have been the cause of the accident.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

All drivers over 18 should be tested every day and all drivers over 80 should be tested every 2 hours.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It counts as a state of affairs, but doesn't lend any light to why he was arrested.

That state of affairs suggests the old man was at fault! If there is a difference between a state of affairs and a suggestion, please, bring out the microscope and show us!

would you convict him based on the detail in the story?

When I earlier said it was not proof, did it not sink in? Do you think I would convict someone without proof, based on suggestions? Why?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Another sad case which strongly supports the need for people over the age of 70 having to retake their test of prove their capable to drive every 2 years. Cars can be dangerous things which kill people and its not good if you get a frail old person behind one of them endangering other road users/pedestrians. I'm sure a mother would understand that the reason her little baby was killed was because some old driver wanted to pop to the shops for milk....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Reckless: "There is nothing to suggest that the cause of the accident is the old man. Just age discrimination."

It's not age discrimination, it's fact. How many accidents have occurred so far this year even where the man or woman (usually a man) behind the wheel is near or over 80? The dude that drove off the ramp and the dog saved him and his granddaughter last year? 84!

You are absolutely correct that there is a very large number of young and middle-aged drivers who fail to obey the laws concerning speeding, lights, and other general laws, but they need to do more extensive testing before allowing seniors to renew their licenses. They DO conduct a kind of senility test as well as vision test, but they need a way to test reaction times and/or conduct simulations. Or perhaps have them retake the actual driving test.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@smithinjapan

How many accidents have occurred so far this year even where the man or woman (usually a man) behind the wheel is near or over 80?

I don't know the answer to this (I know you weren't asking me btw), but can't find any decent stats online. Where did you research this? I'd be interested in the breakdown by age group.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No driving after age 50. Would be much safer out there.

Yeah, sure. Until you turn fifty, right? Nothing wrong with testing people, but I find it fascinating that those pointing fingers at the elderly stop short of pointing at young drivers who in many places create at least as many accident situations.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There are more elderly drivers in Japan than there are younger drivers. So, it is unfair to just look at the percentages out of the accident total without considering what percent of the elderly drivers have accidents as opposed to the percentage of young drivers that have accidents. Show me those percentages and then let's paint a whole generation of drivers with the brush of blame.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I cant say that the old man is at fault by this article. How do we know that the truck did not run a stop sign or red light? Poor old guy, if he is at fault i feel bad for him because either way it was an accident and it is sad. But if he is not at fault i hope someone defends him and get him the help he needs.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why is this in the "Crime" section? It was an "accident", not a "deliberate act".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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