national

3 killed after minivan rear-ends truck in Kanagawa

15 Comments

Three men were killed and four others injured when the minivan they were traveling in rear-ended a truck on a highway in Yokohama on Thursday night.

According to police, the accident occurred at 6:20 p.m. Fuji TV quoted police as saying the minivan, carrying seven men returning from work, slammed into the back of the truck. Three of the men, including the driver were killed, while the other four were taken to hospital with serious injuries, police said.

Police said it was raining heavily at the time and believe the minivan lost traction as the driver applied the brakes.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

15 Comments
Login to comment

RIP fellas, but usually it is the trucks that rear-end cars and vans. Tailgating again?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

How sad, 3 hard working husbands / fathers gone just like that.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

RIP to the victims and wishing recovery to the injured.

However is it only me that think drivers are not using their light properly in Japan? Rarely I can see lights turned on at twilight.

In Europe is the other way round (which I'm not particularly found of) - you have to drive with lights on even at daylight, even n summer in many countries.

Just to add no lights in tunnels and bad habit to change light to parking light while waiting at the signal. Once I saw even police car do this - really shocking! Depending to the weather conditions and surrounding light you might not noticed someone have stopped even...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

You work like a dog, and then DIE: RIP guys.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Let me guess. Tailgating, Smoking and using a cellphone while driving, with TV on in the front seat, no one was wearing seat-belts. Honestly I have no idea how anyone makes it home. I gave up driving a car in Japan. Made my life so much better and I have so much less stress now.

3 ( +4 / -3 )

Police said it was raining heavily at the time and believe the minivan lost traction as the driver applied the brakes.

Otherwise know as skidding under heavy braking.

The reason the minivan rear-ended the truck was because the driver was not maintaining a safe distance, not because it was raining.

4 ( +3 / -0 )

Please drive as the driving conditions dictate. Slower when it's raining, further back from the vehicle in front. Wear your seatbelt. Concentrate.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Probably tailgating; way too common here.

2 ( +2 / -1 )

RIP to the victims. Frankly, I have never seen a country with such a tailgating problem. Doesn't matter the speed, someone seems to always be right behind you. I will purposely slow down and tap my brakes to give them the hint to get off my rear. It's dangerous and I have seen so many accidents because of drivers too close.

0 ( +1 / -2 )

The reason the minivan rear-ended the truck was because the driver was not maintaining a safe distance, not because it was raining.

Of course. Also, educated drivers know, and understand that when it rains, consitions change and you need to sharpen up and keep an even bigger distance than when it's nice and dry. Japanese people are pretty crappy drivers and I can't say tese kind of accidents surprise me.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Tailgating? How much is spent on going to driving schools to learn not to do that? A minivan has a front end like a sardine can. The only benefit from them is gas mileage. Poor souls who lost there lives. RIP.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Jack Stern,

The van was a Hiace, of a model generation equipped with ABS, suggesting it may not have skidded far. Driving them, it's scary to realize there's zero crumple zone.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's raining and there is a lot of standing water. Please slow down for everyone's safety!

Very sad story I really feel bad for these families.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Knox HarringtonJun. 06, 2014 - 06:58PM JST

The reason the minivan rear-ended the truck was because the driver was not maintaining a safe distance, not because it was raining.

Agree. Or, keeping a safe distance but not paying attention, or both.

Of course. Also, educated drivers know, and understand that when it rains, consitions change and you need to sharpen up and keep an even bigger distance than when it's nice and dry.

Agree again.

Japanese people are pretty crappy drivers and I can't say tese kind of accidents surprise me.

Say what????? I don't know where you come from, but first, there are WAY MORE crappy drivers in the continental United States (look up the stats for traffic deaths per capita if you don't believe me, or drive around in America for a few days). Second, it's pretty amazing how few accidents you see in Japan when considering the density of the population, the narrow streets, the amount of cars, bikes, bicycles, pedestrians, and scooters there are on the streets.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

(look up the stats for traffic deaths per capita if you don't believe me, or drive around in America for a few days

Look up how stats are compiled in Japan and the US and get back to us on the death rates.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites