crime

77-year-old woman dies after being dragged 6 kilometers in Niigata

18 Comments

A 77-year-old woman died after being dragged 6 kilometers by a car that hit her in Mitsuke, Niigata Prefecture, early Tuesday morning, police said. The woman was found collapsed on Route 8 in Sakaicho at about 4:25 a.m. According to police, the victim, who has been identified as Tsune Sakurai, had been reported missing since about 3 p.m. Monday by her family.

Police believe that Sakurai, who suffered from senile dementia, wandered onto Route 8, which passed nearby her house, and was struck by at least one vehicle in what they are treating as a hit-and-run incident. Sakurai's bag and boots were found strewn along the road between Nagaoka and Sanjo -- a 6-kilometer distance. Police said the circumstances surrounding the incident suggest that Sakurai's body was dragged for most of that distance and that multiple vehicles were involved.

Police said they are treating the incident as a hit-and-run.

© Compiled from news reports

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

18 Comments
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how very sad for mr Sakurai. RIP. What an awful way to go.

Although I feel sad also that his family didnt keep a closer eye on him. I had a grandparent who also suffered from senile dementia and we always kept someone in the vicinity to prevent things like this from happening.

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In Japan granparents who suffer from Senile Dementia are considered a problem in most families because they can take up most of the children's time and money. That is why most prefer to put them in a home where they can get the constant care that they need. But to go out this why is unbearable, and the police believe that more than one care was hit him, what is wrong with this country? When you see someone get hit by a car do you stop or continue on your way?

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RIP, Mrs. Sakurai. Awful way to go... senile or not.

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if iam a young guy, lets say in my 20's, hit this 77 year old man (who has reached his expiration according to the average life expectancy) and it was totally his fault but the Japanese law does not see it that way, I would keep going and not stop, but make a call from a pay phone ASAP. Why should I go to Jail for the rest of my life (or even 5 years) for a 77 year old man that caused it?? And even if it were my mistake (why ruin a second life/family with this "accident") And i am sure it was an "accident". Does that help you understand "thekeykeeper"??

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JT--- it is not a man, it was a 77 year-old WOMAN who was dragged and died...

Moderator: The story has been corrected. The initial reports were very vague on the gender. We apologize for the error.

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I think someone would notice a bit of noise if they are dragging something under their car.

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what is wrong with this country? When you see someone get hit by a car do you stop or continue on your way?

I think given the many recent news reports we already know the answer to that one. Perhaps though if the law was changed so the police actually INVESTIGATED the circumstances rather than automatically blaming the driver maybe these incidents wouldn`t happen. Then again...

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That is an awful thing to happen to anyone. However, as per miamum, I agree that what is also stupid that you can be charged with murder for hitting somebody that jumps out in front of your car.

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I agree with lovejapan 21 on this one! These oldies are always poppin out into the street, never looking around to see what is coming. But I need to take full blame for their stupidness, screw that oldies!

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While it may not be the driver's fault if a senile elderly person suddenly walks out in front of them, being so oblivious that you drag them under your car for who knows how many km and possibly upon realising what has happened, just drive off, is pretty reprehensible in my opinion. What if she were still alive at some point while being dragged or just after? A hit and run is a hit and run.

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Aaah our nation of cowards and those dodging personal responsibility. Partly the police and judiciary fault - imagine telling the police you hit someone, regardless of the circumstances. Either locked up in jail for 6 weeks before being able to get any legal representation or having to pay $120,000 in gomen money. Instead, gather up the body, dump it and say nothing to no one. The cops will write it off and get back to bicycle inspection. When faced with such a poor system, you have no choice but to take advantage of it.

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Terrible thing. Missing since 3 p.m. on Monday and not found until the next day. Someone had to have seen or heard something. Wonder when she got hit? Did they send anyone out to look for her when she went missing? Sad and painful way to die. On a different vein, why do these articles ALWAYS say 'collapsed?' The word infers that she fell down on her own. Does anyone say "She collapsed after getting hit by several cars"? . If you know she got hit and dragged, the proper wording should be 'She was found lying (unconscious) on Route 8'. You could also say she was found dead on Route 8.

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Alohajapan: "Screw that oldies"? And one day when YOU are an "oldie", you just may realize how "dumb" that comment was... And time moves VERY fast!

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In Japan granparents who suffer from Senile Dementia are considered a problem in most families...

Do you think senile dementia is not a nightmare for everyone anywhere?

As for putting the senile into a facility,... that's not always 100% either. I can remember an old guy escaping twice from the hospital I was staying in when I had my tonsils out. The RCMP had to be called both times to comb the neighborhood for an old fellow in gown and slippers with his name written on them. He couldn't remember his own name but he certainly knew that he didn't want to be where he was.

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If I understand this law correctly, it says you can be charged with a crime when someone darts out into traffic and gets hit. Even if it was unavoidable? What if you stopped, called an ambulace and helped the victim and waited for help to arrive? That counts for nothing??? It's no wonder that mutiple cars didn't stop. The law should be rewritten so people who don't stop and help are the ones being charged.

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@Stevo

I agree that what is also stupid that you can be charged with murder for hitting somebody that jumps out in front of your car.

It would be unbelievably stupid...if it were true. But it ain't.

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I think someone would notice a bit of noise if they are dragging something under their car.

Possibly not with all the noise from the snow chains. But I reckon the driver must have noticed the impact.

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@DocHolliday603, After 13 years in Okinawa I have personally witnessed more than once the fact that it counts for absolutely nothing, especially if you are any nationality other than Japanese. (and God help you if you are an Americajin)If this person had stopped after hitting the old woman and no one had seen the accident,and he tried to help by calling the police and an ambulance, possibly even tried CPR,(very few Japanese even realize there is such a thing, or even care) the police would do their little BS investigation and most likely charge the driver with professional negligence resulting in death. Because all drivers are "professionals".Then the driver would get the pleasure of spending the next 22 days in jail while they "decide" whether to charge them or not. Then spend the next 3-4 months (if bail is granted) bouncing back and forth to court. Then get sentenced, and spend the next 6 months to two years in prison. This all happened to an American and Japanese friend of mine, both times they had struck and killed an older person walking out into traffic from in between parked cars at night.So it's not right legally or morally, but here in Okinawa I can fully understand the notion to just go. Maybe someday the police will pop into the 21st century and get some real investigative training from a modern police force, other than idiots training idiots.

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