crime

Family of 4 hit by car in Tokyo’s Machida City; driver arrested

10 Comments

A family of four were walking along a road when they were hit from behind by a car in Tokyo’s Machida City on Saturday night.

The incident occurred at around 7:30 p.m., Fuji TV reported. According to police, a 68-year-old man is currently in a critical condition while his nine-year-old grandson is being treated for serious injuries. The other two family members, a 38-year-old man and his 13-year-old son, were also injured and were in a stable condition on Sunday.

After the incident, police arrested a 61-year-old male driver on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in injury. He was quoted by police as saying, “I was distracted by a motorcyclist who had temporarily stopped [in the lane].”

The accident scene occurred in a residential area about 700 meters from JR Machida Station. There are no sidewalks along the single-lane road.

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10 Comments
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@Kobe White Bar Owner -  I have been told that it's the drivers responsibility to watch out for pedestrians, 

That is correct. It is also why drivers are arrested. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Don't allow yourself to be distracted by anything on such narrow roads. It's the driver's fault here...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Correct. However, pedestrians are not protected by car-proof force fields. As such, it behooves them to pay attention to their surroundings, and be aware of any 1000kg piles of steel, glass, and plastic that might be careening towards them.

True as far as advice goes.

But given the fact that on streets like that car drivers know they are sharing the space with vulnerable human beings, the legal onus should be on them, the ones driving those 1000kg death machines, to drive in an extremely cautious way that allows them to avoid killing or injuring people.

In cases like the one in this article the "I was distracted" excuse doesn't cut it. This driver is responsible and should face whatever penalties and civil lawsuits he has coming his way.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I hope the victims recovers soon.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The accident scene occurred in a residential area about 700 meters from JR Machida Station. There are no sidewalks along the single-lane road.

As is the case in many narrow side streets.  Very dangerous.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

With the blame proportioning system here, i hope they put some of the blame on the motorcyclist for stopping in what was undoubtedly a no-stopping zone. This is something i see EVERYWHERE here. People stopping and parking, or sitting in their cars on any sidestreets, no matter what parking rules there are. They know that the worst that will happen is a friendly warning from the police.

What they dont realise is by them stopping, they are forcing other drivers to go onto the wrong side of the road, reducing safety for all involved. The worst are the ones that think that stopping on a street corner is the best spot, where they block any visibility for cars and pedestrians (in the case of vans and trucks), who have to go past them.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

That is correct. It is also why drivers are arrested. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

Correct. However, pedestrians are not protected by car-proof force fields. As such, it behooves them to pay attention to their surroundings, and be aware of any 1000kg piles of steel, glass, and plastic that might be careening towards them.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

It is prone accident situation : no pavement and evening is starting.

I wonder if pedestrians had any chance to avoid the car.

Personally, I am scared of any car in those barrow roads because I know those oyajis don't know how to drive or a keitai fan driver is likely to be passing.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's a single lane road. He must have vision problems and shouldn't have been driving, or he was in too much of a hurry to wait to go around the bike thinking he could squeeze through, in which case, he is a d1ckhead. Either way, its his fault and he should be held responsible for the medical fees for all 4 family members + remuneration for their trouble and lost time.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The lack of pavenents does incline people to walk in the middle of the road oblivious of vehicles around them. I have been told that it's the drivers responsiblity to watch out for pedestrians, knowing how 95% of drivers are always in a mad rush + oblivious pedestrians is always going to be trouble, hope they all get well soon.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

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