A group of elementary school children walking home from school were hit by a car, which left three of them injured, in Nose, Osaka, on Monday afternoon. Police arrested the driver of the car, Keiko Yamaoka, 61, and charged her with reckless driving resulting in injury.
According to police, the incident occurred just after 4 p.m. Fuji TV reported that a group of 10 elementary students were on a pedestrian crossing when Yamaoka's car went through a red light and hit them. A 12-year-old girl suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital unconscious. A seven year-old boy and one other child also sustained injuries, but all three were in a stable condition Tuesday morning, police said.
According to police investigations, Yamaoka was heading to a nursing care facility, where she currently works part-time. She was quoted as saying she was looking off into the distance, and not right in front of her, when she hit the children.
© Japan Today
16 Comments
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lomae
@towingtheline
Couldn't agree more.
Giveme_abreak
Just last Dec 2016 I had my very first accident here in Japan when this lady about mid 40's hit my back (bounced back) so she kinda hit me twice. It was a red light and she was clearly NOT paying attention and good thing I was just on my way to pick up my daughter so I called a friend who lives nearby to pick her up because an ambulance had to take me to the hospital. I am not sure how brain works for some other people but all can wait after you stop the car, I know people who are multi tasking even if aren't suppose to. The problem is their stupidity/recklessness can cause more damage to people.
John Beara
Hey... come to the countryside ... u'll see how crazy it is :/
therougou
I doubt those numbers take into account how often and for how long the specified age groups actually drive.
Daniel Naumoff
I am cherishing the life enough to never drive. The material self-entitlement of having a car at older age costs lives to people every month, and going against the nature of human body while saying "I am still fit to drive" is not foolish, it is a moral crime not only to yourself but to every person you might pass on your way from A to B. They must stop when they start feeling the slightest strain on the body and the mind.
Mirai Hayashi
61 is not that old. Plenty of 60 somethings can drive proficiently. This is just a case of a woman who wasn't paying attention to the road, and has nothing to with her age.
jcapan
What Disillusioned said. Why stop at 60? Anyone over 40! I mean we'll all be moving into nursing homes by then anyway. Who'll need a car.
Disillusioned
That has to be the most naive and narrow-minded statement I've read on JT in over a decade. I think you really need to check the statistics before making such a statement. It is the young drivers (under 30) who cause most of the accidents. I'm guessing you are part of that demographic. Should you stop driving?
Daniel Naumoff
60+ is enough age to STOP driving. The border between the reckless driving and inability to regain control on the road is too thin to be playing chances.
Disillusioned
Just another red light runner with a weak excuse. I drive every day and found today to be especially bad for stupid and arrogant drivers. I lost count of how many drivers I saw run red lights within the first 30 minutes of traveling this morning. Also, I think they should remove mirrors from Japanese cars because drivers don't know how to use them, except for putting on make up or checking their manga hair do, of course. I'm very glad these kids were not too seriously injured, but something needs to be done about inattentive drivers and red light runners. They are out of control! I saw a truck today with an iPad Mini mounted in the middle of the windscreen, just to the left of the driver and, of course, he was playing around with it while barrelling down a main street in excess of the speed limit. Meanwhile, the police are very busy checking your bicycle to make sure it has a ¥500 rego sticker on it and a reflector. Gotta get those priorities right, hey folks? (roll eyes)
towingtheline
In my 17 years of living here, I can safely state that poor observational awareness is a chronic condition in Japan. This applies equally to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. Modern digital entertainment and communication devices have only contributed to making it worse. Whenever I'm out and about, I'm always in defensive mode because most people are not paying attention to where they're going or their immediate surroundings.
SenseNotSoCommon
to a future with even fewer taxpayers?
papigiulio
I've said it before but it's really time for the government to do something about the red lights law, heavy fines/punishment. Red means STOP. Not, rush it.
Fapster
she needs to be locked up. it couldve been much worse. revoke her license, fire her and send her to prison for at least 1 year. really needs to be harsher punishments for this. Keiko, you are an absolute disgrace
HaiDesu
I hope the injured kids will heal quickly and fully not just physically but also from the mental trauma. I think they will be very sensitive to walking across streets now.