Police in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, have arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act last November by driving aggressively, which resulted in obstructing an ambulance taking a patient to a hospital.
According to police, Kazuhiro Kawamoto, a company employee, is accused of cutting in front of the ambulance with its siren on, as it drove along National Route 23 in Suzuka on Nov 27, NTV reported. He zig-zagged on the two-lane highway, then reversed his car toward the ambulance and stopped, obstructing the ambulance.
The Suzuka City Fire Department said the ambulance was taking a patient to hospital at the time and the incident delayed its arrival by about two minutes.The patient's condition was not affected.
Kawamoto drove off after the incident but his car was identified from recordings on the ambulance's dashcam.
Police said Kawamoto was vague during questioning and quoted him as saying, "I've obstructed cars several times before, so it might have happened with the ambulance.”
© Japan Today
10 Comments
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Newgirlintown
What an idiot. Life time ban, please.
Yubaru
I have driven an ambulance here and the number of people who refuse to give the right of way to ambulances that have their sirens on would probably surprise most people.
I hope that these folks never have to experience being the person IN the ambulance trying to get to a hospital to save their life.
This guys deserves having his license suspended at the minimum, along with paying fines and compensation for the nuisance he caused.
kurisupisu
Unbelievably immature individuals on the roads in Japan sometimes…
sakurasuki
Road rage just turn blind on everything, even when it can cost patient life.
dbsaiya
Revoke his license, and a hefty fine please.
BertieWooster
I'm guessing, but I think this is a mistranslation. A suspicion is a feeling or a thought. That he drove aggressively is not a feeling or a thought. That is established. Whether he will be found guilty or not is not certain. The more usual statement would be, "He was charged with violating the Road Traffic Act."
Also, this happened in November last year. Why did it take so long to arrest him? Has this guy been driving with no restraint for two months?
Mr Kipling
Should have been charged with attempted murder.
TokyoLiving
Same as your immature comments against Japan..
Sometimes..
Cephus
The guy needs help with anger management before he kills someone.
Zaphod
OK, that is another innovative excuse. I was expecting the usual "I don´t remember". Hope he loses his license.