crime

Man arrested over hit-and-run death of 82-year-old cyclist in Funabashi

19 Comments

Police said Wednesday they have arrested a 45-year-old man over the hit-and-run death of a 82-year-old man on a bicycle on Tuesday night in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture. The man turned himself at a local police station Wednesday morning, police said.

Masami Shishido, 45, was arrested for allegedly hitting Hiroshi Tanaka, 82, with his car on the street around 7:50 p.m. when the victim was crossing the street on his bicycle. The victim was taken to hospital but died of severe head injuries.

Shishido was quoted by police as saying, “I fled the accident scene because I was scared I would lose my job if I was involved in an accident. But I thought I couldn't run away after I saw the news.”

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19 Comments
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82 years old and riding a bicycle? Condolences to his family, but I feel more sorry for the driver that hit him. At that age he would have the road sense of a three year old and a reaction time of a 82 year old. Too many times I have seen senior cits swerving all over the road as they attempt to navigate a straight line on a bicycle and it comes as no surprise one of them got cleaned up. Sad, but inevitable.

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It's really not that hard to look out for bikes when you are driving. Of course, that requires that you are actually paying attention to driving, and not looking at your bleeping cell phone or shaving or putting on makeup, or watching some cartoon on your dvd player...

It's not like 82 year olds are quickly darting in and out of traffic..

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bamboohat: True on all counts and my sincere condolences to the family but if you've spent time on the roads in Japan then you'll know that almost all cyclists, from 8 to 83, ride against traffic (when they're not on the pavement terrorising pedestrians), frequently ride without lights, helmets, reflective clothing and common sense. While this story is sad and the hit and run driver deserves to be punished for leaving the scene of an accident, I am utterly convinced that the majority of cycling accidents in this country are caused by cyclists who don't follow the rules of the road and who are not paying attention but who are looking at their bleeping cell phones, holding umbrellas, balancing too many kids and so on and so on ad naseum.

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serindipity - You feel sorry for the driver who hit the old man and left him to die?

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Agreed. The driver should have stopped. But I can't help but think that it was probably the old man that was at most fault. More times than I can count have I seen cyclists of all ages give little thought to how they ride. This is a well known reality to anyone who lives in Japan. Japanese have this innate sense of invincibility whenever they take to the roads whether by foot, car or two-wheeled transport.

Always expect the unexpected while driving in Japan.

S

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None of you commenting have any idea how this happened, but yet seem to "know" it was the 82 year olds fault because "they" don't ride in straight lines, ride against traffic, etc. You're all talking out of your butts. An old man got hit and was left to die on the road. That's all you know.

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Hope I'm still riding when I'm in my eighties. Hope I'm still riding safely.

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Hey - lots of 82 year olds still have their wits (and coordination) about them! This is why I am all for cycle lanes and/or cycling on the footpaths - and cycle helmets.

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Yup, Speed beat me to the punch. Ditto...what he said.

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I going with senile old man on this. I saw an Obasan walking into traffic on an s-bend, in the middle of the on coming lane, and an amazing trucker who obviously knows to go wide and keep your eyes wide open on corners, narrowly avoid her. he didn't change face expression and she never bat an eye. Romulus was agape but as we know, if the trucker cleaned her out then he was going to jail for negligence and if he had a family, they weren't eating for a few years so thats why people hit and run in japan. well that and that some of them are tanked.

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serindipity - You feel sorry for the driver who hit the old man and left him to die?

Yep! I don't condone the fact he or she left the scene, of course, but the person responsible has had their life destroyed by what is 'more than likely to be' an error of judgment by the an 82 year old who should not have been riding a bicycle on a busy main road in the first place. Also, the articles states he was riding his bicycle across the road. They are supposed to walked across roads. error in judgment #1.

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Riding against traffic is the biggest problem. Suicidal!

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Maybe he was drunk and wanted to sober up before going to the koban? If your choices are: a)sticking around the crimescene when you're pissdrunk b)showing up sober the next day and admitting to the hit-and-run and apologizing/bowing many will go with (b)

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Serindipity,

They are supposed to walked across roads

I had heard that before, at least as far as crosswalks are involved, but in my search for the applicable Road Traffic Law, could not confirm this. Are you sure that this is in the law?

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Are you sure that this is in the law?

Nope! I'm not sure it's in the law, but it is what they teach the kids in elementary school. Just like, don't run across the road, but how many times have you seen a mother running across a busy street with two or three kids in tow.

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And his death could have possibly been avoided if he were wearing a helmet...

nuff said

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Helmets and Japan don't really go together though.

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Bicycles follow the same rules of the road as cars. As far as I know, it's not required for a car owner to get out and cross the road by foot.

There are still no details as to what occurred and it's a bit presumptuous, not to mention ageist, to presume that because the man was 82 that he did not have full facilities of his mind and body.

I have met many older people in Japan and after talking with them learned that they were into their late 70s and seemed very lively.

I do feel badly for the car driver as well, since he obviously didn't intend to hit anyone. It's one of the dangers and pitfalls to driving a car.

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Cyclist follow their own rules, though the highway code requires them to follow the rule of law. Not driving on the left is dangerous. Driving the wrong way down one way streets is dangerous. Jumping between road and pavement without checking is dangerous.

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