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A 60-year-old police officer, who was due to retire next month, was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Taiki, Mie Prefecture, on Saturday.
According to police, the officer, Yasuhiko Oku, was found collapsed on a crossing on National Route 42 by a man driving along at around 4:20 a.m., Fuji TV reported.
Police said Oku was apparently hit by a car as there were tire skid marks on the crossing. There are traffic lights at the crossing where the incident occurred.
Oku was taken to hospital where he died due to severe head injuries shortly after arrival.
Police said Oku lived nearby and that after finishing work Friday night, he had gone drinking at a pub, which he left at around 1:30 a.m
Police said they are examining street surveillance camera footage to try and identify the vehicle.
© Japan Today
10 Comments
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Brian Wheway
There is a lot of CCTV cameras about, but does Japan have red light cameras? we have them in the UK, the are activated when the traffic light is red, so if a driver jumps the red light, there number is captured and a fine and penalty points are in the post.
Cp
Nicholas, that's a lot to go through, I wish you all the best.
This is exactly why I always stop and check for cars, no matter if the light is red or there is a stop sign.
I'm a firm believer that a lot of people here don't give a damn about the law and would rather make rash decisions and say gomen nasai later -- if they even have to do that.
Nicholas Johnson
I was involved in two hit and runs, resulting in now have a lot of metal implants.
1st time was a guy running a stop sign, resulting in 3 weeks in hospital with cuts and bruises. Witness gave the police the guys car's make, model and plate number, and after a few days the police told the wife and I that the plate number and car did not match, and that was that, the investigation was over, they could not find the driver.
About 1 ½ years later the now ex-wife and I was crossing at a crosswalk, when a guy did not stop, I managed to push the wife out of the way, but again I was cleaned up, resulting in two broken hips and over a month in hospital, this time the guy stopped to check on me, saw I was a foreigner, jumped back in his car and took off. The wife managed to photograph the car including the plate number, and once again after a few days the police told the wife and I that plate and car did not match, and that was that, the investigation was over.
Now because they could not find either driver, I was left with 100% of the medical bills, could not sue the drivers, to top if off, after having due hip replacement, and the doctor telling the wife I was now disabled and cannot return to my job, she filed for divorce the next day.
I have heard of this happening to other foreigners, the worse case was in Roppongi back in 2004, when a German lady was cleaned up, 100's of people got photographs of the car and driver, and the same BS from the police, she ended up returning to Germany in a wheel chair for life, and because the police did not find the driver, she could not sue for damages.
But you can bet your life on it the police will find the driver who hit this cop, with out any information, because one he is Japanese and two a cop.
smithinjapan
Do the hustle: "I’m not defending the coward that drove off, but it is likely this old cop was blind drunk and just wandered across the road without any care."
I was thinking the same thing, and feeling the same way about the punk who drove off. Often these guys turn themselves in later the same or next day, but since this guy/woman likely knows what he/she did, it's less likely. Hopefully they can't hide it and get reported if they don't turn themselves in. RIP. As much as I rip on the J-cops I know they go through hell particularly when they start out and are basically hazed and bullied and given the crap jobs (so much so that many seem to shoot themselves), and this guy survived it all only for this.
lolozo79
Tragic. To die in such a sordid manner. I can imagine what was running through his mind when he was hit. "I'm getting too old for this. One month until retirement....." Hope they catch the perpetrator responsible for this.
juminRhee
Does the officer have a rank? It sounds like the lifelong veteran is a rookie when its reported as officer. Should at least be a captain equivalent.
Do the hustle
I’m not defending the coward that drove off, but it is likely this old cop was blind drunk and just wandered across the road without any care.
Brian Wheway
I am sure his fellow officer will be going the extra mile to catch there friend's killer, and I dont think that I would like to be in his shoes when they catch him.
gogogo
Very sad, hit and run is very common in Japan :(
JJ Jetplane
This is sad. He made practically made it through his entire career as a police officer and right before he crossed the finish line, his life was snatched away.
When you’ve spent years working hard, you deserve your time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. It’s sad he won’t get to.