Police on Monday sent papers to prosecutors on a 69-year-old taxi driver on a charge of reckless driving resulting in death after his vehicle hit and killed the 45-year-old driver of a hire car in Tokyo’s Roppongi district.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Fuji TV reported that the taxi driver, Yasuhiro Minami, drove his car into the victim, Susumu Okada, knocking him onto the hood, and continued for several meters before hitting a traffic light pole. Police on Sunday said footage captured on the cab’s drive recorder showed Minami’s taxi accelerating before hitting Okada.
Police said the two vehicles approached each other on a narrow four-meter road near the Spanish Embassy. Okada and Minami both got out of their cars and were arguing because neither vehicle would give way to the other. Minami told police he left the engine running without the brake on and his taxi started moving. He ran back and got in but before he could stop the taxi, it gained speed and hit Okada.
Police quoted Minami as saying he stepped on the brake pedal but couldn’t stop in time.
© Japan Today
8 Comments
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bjohnson23
He panicked, the car went on its own? It's an automatic and these days an extremely rare occurrence. He hit the accelerator vs the brakes, perhaps, but after a heated argument for cab fare...hmmm. highly suspicious anger gave way rather than civility...this has nothing to do with age as some people will try to bait that argument.
Do the hustle
What a complete load of bovine excrement! This crazy old taxi driver deliberately ran him over. The charge should be murder!
Vince Black
Murder, plain and simple.
Another elderly driver mowing down innocent victims.
BlackFlagCitizen
In general, I notice taxi drivers driving a bit too aggressive, cutting people off, and running red lights over the past couple of years. Personally, I can't stand driving in districts where taxis are abundant.
I don't believe a word this taxi driver states. C'mon, who exits their car with it still in gear or in neutral?
hooktrunk2
Well, I am embarrassed to say that I did this once in my car. However, as soon as I put my foot on the ground I noticed and immediately put the car in "P". I can't remember why, but something obviously distracted my attention. Anyway, the problem with his argument is that he would know it immediately if it was still in drive and if it was in neutral then that means he shifted gears in to drive and pressed the accelerator. Sure he might have mistaken the pedals as people do sometimes, but if it was an honest mistake wouldn't he have put it into park at least? If this was an honest stupid blunder, I hope for his sake there are security cameras that can help his case, otherwise...
AgentX
One in the early stages of dementia?
Magnus Roe
It says there is a dash cam in the taxi so it will obviously show whether the car accelerated before or after the driver re-entered it.