Three people, including a two-year-old boy, were killed in a collision involving a truck and two passenger vehicles in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, on Monday.
The accident occurred at around 4 p.m. along National Route 17, broadcaster NTV reported. According to police reports, the truck driver veered into the oncoming lane and collided with two cars waiting at a traffic light.
The three people killed in the collision were in one of the cars. They have been identified as Hiroto Tsukagoshi, 26, his son Minato, 2, and his father Masahiro, 53.
Additionally, the male truck driver, 69, sustained severe injuries in the accident. A 52-year-old woman driving the other car suffered minor injuries.
The collision occurred along a straight stretch of road with two lanes on each side. Police said visibility was good at the time.
© Japan Today
17 Comments
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garypen
I hope they tested the truck driver for blood alcohol. There are two likely reasons for veering over the line on a straight road: he was drunk; or he was unconscious due to fatigue or illness.
Corey
I have to admit that I feel a knee-jerk bias when I see the word “truck driver”.
kiwiboy
This one is horrific! The poor family, just going about their day and for it all to end like that. There are no words :S
Similarly, regardless of the circumstances, I feel for the driver too. He didn't go out in the morning planning on killing three people. So even if he did something stupid like look at his phone, I can't help but feel for the pain he (and his completely innocent family) are going to go through over this as well.
Alongfortheride
Yet again judgement comments! How about mechanical failure?
garypen
I said "most likely reasons", not "the only reasons".
Operator error is far more likely than mechanical failure. And, the most likely cause of operator error is impairment, either from intoxication or illness.
It may very well be mechanically related, such as steering or brake system malfunction. But, it is far less likely. My yen is on operator error.
john b
When I see this, I assume cell phone. My wife does the driving, so I can look around all I like. A lot of truck drivers are looking at the phone I can I can see in their hands or down at something that...I assume is a phone.
Lindsay
Obviously the truck driver was distracted. Most likely he was using his phone. Just about every second car I see the driver using their phone.
JRO
We don't know the reason yet but I definitely see a lot of cellphones being used by the professional drivers.
I wish police focused more on that stuff than sitting around hunting people for stupid mistakes that doesn't matter. Even after a year police still sit in the same intersection by my house, just because there is construction there which has made it hard to understand who should give way or not, everyone is basically just standing still trying to figure it out so there is zero danger but it gives the police an easy way to stack points.
Alongfortheride
SO how about before you comment on something the drivers family could be reading you actually wait until actually know what your talking about!
Alongfortheride
Obviously? How do you know? Were you in the car next to him watching? Don't make a judgement call on something you have no idea on.
garypen
A lot of people are saying cell phone distraction. But, the article specifically states that stretch of road was completely straight, with clear visibility.
It's doubtful that the truck would have veered enough into the opposing lane of traffic to cause a head-on collision, from just the driver glancing at a cell phone. On a curved road, sure. But, a straightaway? Well, maybe. But, it seems less likely than a more serious impairment.
TokyoLiving
If guilty, must pay..
Jonathan Prin
Bad driving is killing, remember.
Even the lady will be shocked for life, surely having seen all the scene and the crushing of the 3 neighbours at that time. Horrific.
And it is strange the truck driver could not give a word about what happened even if severe injuries.
So sad a family was hit so hard.
Hercolobus
RIP little one.
diobrando
Rip little angel.
During GW road are full of families and I saw many trucks with dangerous driving way, being on the third lane (the fasted one) at over 110km...where is the police?
bogva
If you have seen the TV footage you know the truck crushed totally the car in the opposite side lane. Horrific - hope they find the real reason for the truck doing that. RIP for the lost family.
masterblaster
The news said the truck driver was speeding.