crime

91-year-old driver who hit pedestrians killing one, gets suspended sentence

15 Comments

A 91-year-old driver who ran a red light and hit four pedestrians, killing one of them, in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, last year, has been sentenced to three years, suspended for five years.

The Yokohama District Court handed down the ruling Friday against Kumiko Saito who was convicted of dangerous driving resulting in death, Fuji TV reported. Her driver’s license was also revoked.

The court heard that in December 2017, Saito, then 90, had passed a cognitive function test and renewed her driver's license in March 2018.

At around 10:55 a.m. on May 28, Saito drove her car from an auto repair garage. She slowed down as she approached a crossing at an intersection but couldn't stop in time before hitting people on the crossing. Witnesses said the traffic light for the crossing was green at the time.

A 57-year-old woman was killed and three others were hospitalized.

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15 Comments
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Wao, human life can sometimes be so cheap in Japan.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

A 91 year old has NO business driving.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

How old was the doctor? 105?

The driverless car can help solve these issues.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Life is cheap when you are a pedestrian.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

If he ran a red light, then shame on him, prison sentence it should be!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

You know, there are probably plenty of drunk drivers who can drive perfectly fine when they're under the influence. It's illegal to do so because most people are absolutely dangerous when they drive drunk. Most people at 91 do not have the proper cognitive functionality to drive safely so why do we keep letting this happen? Is there really NOTHING we can do to fix this?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

I get it, she is old... but this is BS... she should be made to sell all her assets, including car, and give them to the families of the dead. She can go live on a shelter somewhere.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

If he ran a red light, then shame on him, prison sentence it should be!

Read the article PLEASE! Miss it once, ok it's a typo, but twice?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Wao, human life can sometimes be so cheap in Japan.

Sometimes? I was hit by a taxi today when I was riding my bike. Not the first time. Going straight on a green (blue, duh) and was hit when the taxi turned left. Taxi driver showed ZERO remorse.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Cars don’t kill people, people kill people.

Or or something like that.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Good to know in case I run somebody over. I'll just point to this precedent and walk away free.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

At 91 she shouldn't even be able to pilot a wheelchair. Ridiculous.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

No licenses for elderly !!..

Easy to say, and since you did, share with everyone what age is "the elderly?" What age are you going to start taking licenses from them?

Everyone can say things, but coming up with a viable solution is something that takes some cooperative intelligence.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Was there ever any doubt she would get a suspended sentence? Welcome to Japan where life is cheap and fake remorse will absolve you of serious crimes

She knew the light was red but hit the gas anyway because she wanted to get through the intersection before the pedestrians filled the crosswalk unfortunately her timing was bad

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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