A go-kart operated by an 11-year-old girl went off the course and crashed into onlookers in the town of Mori, Hokkaido, on Sunday. Police said one of the children injured in the collision, Sena Yoshida, a two-year-old boy from Hakodate City, died at a hospital on Monday.
According to Hokkaido Broadcasting Co, the go-kart is the type commonly found at family-friendly amusement parks. They typically have a maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour, which is as fast as a bicycle. However, the go-kart involved in the accident is called a “racing kart” that can reach a speed of 50 kph.
Sunday’s event was held at the Greenpia Onuma resort by a car dealership that advertised “experiencing a speed you’ve never tasted before.” An 11-year-old girl was behind the wheel when her go-kart bolted off the course and rammed into the onlookers.
Three young boys, including the two-year-old who later died, were rushed to a hospital. The other two sustained minor injuries.
The event organizer said the girl driving the go-kart had done four laps around the 200-meter track and was making her fifth round to head back to the starting area. However, she was unable to slow down and make a turn, continuing straight ahead at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour when she went off the course.
© Japan Today
28 Comments
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Sanjinosebleed
Very sad for all concerned! Not only the poor parents of the young boy but the parents of the girl driving!
What the hell was someone who had no doubt never driven anything like this before allowed to drive this cart for? Japan always tends to be lacking on safety in these types of things. I bet there weren't any real safety barriers for a start!
rainyday
What on Earth were they doing letting little kids drive vehicles at 50km/hour? That is just an accident waiting to happen.
browny1
This event was not at an established course with permanent barriers / safety elements.
It was set up on the resort car park.
Sadly, Huge problems with this.
yokohamarides
This wasn't an accident - it was entirely predictable. Just shocking negligence on the car dealership's part.
sunfunbun
There was no rule book. Someone had to think on their own, and the Japanese do not do this well. They are subservient when told what to do, but their ability to think things out can be a disaster of illogic and stupidity.
Lindsay
A racing cart, an 11 year old girl and no safety fences! Three strikes and you’re out! How stupid can the organizers be? That was an accident waiting to happen! And, it did!
shogun36
Unfortunately the two year old can never be brought back, rest easy young one.
As for the Oniuma Resort or whatever it’s called. I definitely hope they get litigious cases up the young Yang for this. Gross negligence on their part to allow such a dangerous “event” to take place.
Bobbysix
Sadly it seems there were only cones and plastic poles in front of the spectators so there was no protection for them in the event of an accident.
rainyday
You can see what the course looks like from Japanese news reports like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBrQ8M5b964
Its basically just a parking lot with no barriers at all.
shogun36
Absurd
So basically it was a basic driver's license test course............heck, even the Japanese DMV provides more barriers around their courses. And those are 18-25 year old adults.
What did they expect from kids 8 - 12 or whatever it was.
Too much Mario Kart for those in charge I guess.
MilesTeg
There's an incredible amount of unwarranted trust of some questionable activities. It's like people, especially parents just believe everything these vendors say and don't look or think for themselves. I've gotten criticized and called a Debbie Downer for simply asking questions like...'are there any more life preservers?' or 'I wouldn't recommend it.' At Kamogawa Sea World you can have a full grown Orca kiss your child for only 800yen. With the growing phenomena of mentally disturbed orcas at Sea Worlds, that's a disaster waiting to happen.
Eastman
what is kph?
rainyday
0.6 mph.
Mocheake
They should have seen something like this coming de to the speeds the carts can achieve. Were there barriers between the track and the crowd? It seems not. RIP to that poor young child who was just out having fun and lost its life.
therougou
First you say it is a common type, then you say they typically go 30kph but that this one went 50kph.
So is it typical or not?
Mr Kipling
Check out the above Japanese news link.
Course has a long straight followed by a sharp right turn. No barrier so any carts not making the turn are going into the crowd. What were they thinking?
Eastman
when security measures does not exists...very common here
3RENSHO
There are 2 basic types of go-kart; a low-powered two-seater normally found at family-oriented amusement parks, and a high-powered single seat 'racing cart' which is capable of much higher speeds and is operated at restricted-access racing circuits. The accident in question involved the second type, although it happened in a parking lot.
Tom San
Chances are that the sponsor did not have a remote kill-switch installed on the go-karts used at the event.
kohakuebisu
What a tragedy for the parents and for the girl driver who is likely to be traumatized. RIP.
Mickelicious
I saw this on the news. There were no crash barriers, just plastic cones.
The girl and everyone else who was there are traumatised for life.
Unfortunately the cretins responsible will get away with this.
Ah_so
Totally - what kind of risk assessment were they making? None obviously.
Sadly yes. But Japan is slow to change after these accidents and they keep happening. It seems crazy if there are not regulations governing safety barriers and distance spectators are allowed to the track. If there are, and were not followed, criminal convictions should follow - this was a predictable event and someone should be held responsible.
But the reality is that in Japan is that change happens slowly.
Speed
Poor little boy!
JRO
No safety barriers for a track with go carts going 50kmh, that can't be legal right? Japan has the weirdest and strictest rules for stupid stuff, then for some things it's basically just a free for all. I really hope the public and the parents of the 2 year old understands that this is 100% the fault of the organizers, so the young girl don't have to suffer more than she already has to.
Jonathan Prin
Victims, the driver girl and the parents of hurt kids, will be blamed in a way, and the organizers paying some damages after civil negociation will be let go.
This is criminal by full negligence.
RIP
Mark
people die even when hit by a bicycle at low speeds, so 30 kmh or 50kmh is just as deadly when little or no guard rail are in place.