Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for reckless driving resulting in death after he crashed into another car, killing the 63-year-old woman driving it, during a police chase in Oimachi, Kanagawa Prefecture, last December.
The Yokohama District Court handed down the sentence against Tsukasa Oki. According to the indictment, a police patrol car noticed a station wagon, driven by Oki, on a train crossing on the Odakyu line, despite the gates being down, at around 11:25 p.m. last Dec 15, Fuji TV reported.
The police car sounded its siren and the station wagon sped off. After being pursued for about four kilometers along National Route 255, the station wagon went through a red light at an intersection and hit a car being driven by Izumi Takematsu, 63. Takematsu suffered extensive injuries and was taken to hospital where she died at around two hours later.
The station wagon also hit a truck and then came to a halt. Three men and women, including Oki, in the station wagon were taken into custody, while one other left the vehicle and fled on foot. Police said they had all been drinking. Oki, who was driving, was arrested at the scene on a charge of reckless driving resulting in death.
Prosecutors had requested a 10-year sentence for Oki who pleaded guilty.
© Japan Today
9 Comments
Login to comment
Chip Star
If you drink and drive, you should know that you could kill or seriously injure others. This sentence is far too light.
DaDude
Unfortunately this is the usual sentence for vehicular manslaughter, often lighter.
thepersoniamnow
That’s chump change. He should get more for drinking + driving + fleeing + homicide.
Takematsu Izumi is dead because he chose the above. It’s not enough justice.
Belrick
A light sentence. But I think judges are stepping up their game in sending peeps down. Several years ago, a drunk driver rammed into a taxi in Tokyo, killing all 4 people aboard. He received less than 4 years.
Belrick
*perps, not peeps
Do the hustle
Should be 28 years.
GW
8 years...…...unbelievable they guy is basically getting away with it, messed up!
shallots
At 29 he will still be young; his victim will still be dead and the victims family still missing their loved one. Is there parole in Japan or will he do the full?