crime

2 men on motorbike sought after woman in her 80s killed in hit-and-run

21 Comments

A woman in her 80s died after she was hit by a motorbike as she was crossing a street in Hamura, Tokyo, on Saturday night. Two men who were on the motorbike left the scene after the accident, witnesses said.

The incident occurred at around 7 p.m., Sankei Shimbun reported. Witnesses told police that the woman was crossing the street when the motorbike, coming from the direction of JR Hamura Station, knocked her down.

The motorbike toppled over but the two riders immediately got back on and rode away, police quoted witnesses as saying.

The woman was taken to hospital where she died early Sunday morning, police said.

Police said they are examining street surveillance camera footage to try and identify the motorbike. The incident was also recorded by a dash cam in a car coming toward the motorbike.

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21 Comments
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This kind of accident "hit and run" happens very often in Japan

Don't you mean this kind of accident is reported very often in Japan Today? It happens where I live too, but I can't find any data that compares different countries. If you know of any such data, please let us know.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Larr FlintToday  05:27 pm JST

This kind of accident "hit and run" happens very often in Japan .................................

Compared to? There are 127 million people in Japan, a relatively small country, and this is national news. If it happened in a physically bigger country it would only be reported locally.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Rest in Peace” unfortunate soul. “Condolences” to her grieving family & friends. May there be a thorough yet, speedy investigation & apprehension to catch the driver and the passenger for not rendering aid to her.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

They both have earned prison time.

I hope the driver does, I’m not as certain about the other one. The driver is the one who actually hit her and was under a legal obligation to stay. I’m not sure if the passenger actually committed any crime (just by leaving the scene of an accident which he himself did not cause).

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

don't be so fast to judge. we don't know the full story yet.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

I believe passengers are responsible for encouraging the driver from fleeing and stay behind as a witness. Escaping is not a good choice for both.

Well, we don’t know that the passenger didn’t encourage the driver to stay, but regardless I don’t think his failure to do so is a crime in itself. A witness leaving the scene of a crime also isn’t in itself a crime (witnesses should stay, but failing to do so won’t get them charged).

I’m definitely not defending the passenger here, he clearly should have stayed as that is the only responsible thing to do. All I am saying is that I don’t think failing to stay, which s the only thing we know he did according to the content of the article, is itself a crime.

There are other things we don’t know though and it is possible he contributed to the crime, in which case he could be charged for his involvement. Like if he helped the driver pick up the bike, then he would be an active accomplice in his escape, or something like that.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Was the old woman jaywalking? The elderly here are notorious for it.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

They will both walk into a koban tomorrow morning and give themselves up, that's what often happens.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Was the old woman jaywalking? The elderly here are notorious for it.

What a distorted mindset, is this really your opinion or a try to excuse the bikers? However much the old lady was jaywalking or not, that’s no reason at all to mow her down and leave the scene without first medical aid and calling an ambulance and police immediately. Maybe you get too into that age group one day, what treatment wish you for then? Hopefully not a similarly excusing or ignorant one.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Too little information to judge anything, but certainly they should not have left the scene.

The law is so strict already that often people are tempted to flee… and if they’ve been drinking for example then even more so, plus they’ll want to allow time for any remaining alcohol to have dissipated before they come in.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Cute, were the two guys on a little date?

Isn't it already illegal to have two on a motorbike at once?

Well, ball is in your court now J-Cops.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Sooner or later all cars will have standard dash cameras that can't be turned off.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

What a distorted mindset, is this really your opinion or a try to excuse the bikers?

@SvenAsai. In no way, shape or form do I condone the riders fleeing the scene. They will be caught and they will be punished and this is as it should be. Nor do I suggest that the elderly woman deserved getting hit. I ask about jaywalking because if the riders did not see the elderly woman, say, while turning a curve and suddenly “BAM!!” an elderly woman has stepped out into a place where she clearly should not be then it is likely the riders themselves may be in shock. Harry Gato said it best: the riders will likely turn themselves into the police tomorrow. It’s happened before. Hope that explains “my distorted mindset.”

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The only additional information that comes up after trawling various news sources is that it was a スクーター型のバイクi.e. a ‘scooter-type bike’.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

That's type of tragedy and hit and run offense is disturbing and escalating since the woman was in her 80's

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Two pieces of trash, sociopaths who need to spend 30 years behind bars.

Rest in Peace to the poor old lady.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

don't be so fast to judge. we don't know the full story yet.

Oh really? They hit a pedestrian crossing the street in a country that, like it or not has strict liability for the vehicle operator. This is a known fact.

Rather than render assistance, they got back on their bike and fled the scene. This is a known fact.

She died as a result of being hit. This is a known fact.

I am struggling understand how much more information a reasonable person needs to have to make a judgement here....

4 ( +5 / -1 )

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