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A four-year-old boy died after he was hit by a tractor being driven by his father on a farm in Betsukai, Hokkaido, on Sunday.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 11 a.m., Fuji TV reported. Farm owner Taiki Saito, 44, was driving his tractor when he hit his son Rikio. The boy was rushed to hospital where he died shortly after arrival.
Police said at the time of the accident, Rikio was playing with his two sisters, aged 11 and 5, in front of the tractor. They were on top of a bundle of rolled-up grass when Rikio fell off into the path of the tractor.
His sisters called out to their father but Saito was unable to stop the tractor in time.
© Japan Today
18 Comments
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tjguy
What a tragic story and a traumatic event for the family! So sorry for them!
Dr. Theopolis
Heavy machinery and kids don’t mix. Common sense would have prevented this accident.
Bugle Boy of Company B
My heart aches for the sisters. For the whole family.
Kobe White Bar Owner
Tragic. Surly if it was a farm the kids could/should be playing a safe distance away from a tractor? Hewaboke. RIP little man, best of luck to the father trying to forgive yourself will be a tough thing to do if possible at all.
Michael Machida
OMG! Terrible.
Paul Thompson
My heart goes out to the family. As a father of four I cannot imagine the devastation and guilt that Saito must be experiencing. I pray that they can pull together as a family and, along with their community, get through this tragedy.
To those who have made comments here that are judgmental, you should be ashamed.
Designer 02
Paul Thompson. Spot on with your comments
Brian Wheway
Accident or not an accident, either way his farther will have it on his conscience for the rest of his life. very sad indeed.
Mocheake
Seriously gross negligence on the part of the father. The kids should not have been playing anywhere near the tractor. I guess he couldn't see the child before he hit him. RIP.
Do the hustle
Oh, so three little kids were playing around a moving tractor and one got killed. Perhaps those warnings about using common sense and keeping kids away from farm vehicles and machinery are valid. Poor kid!
Mirai Hayashi
Not judging...just stating facts....Its wasn't a pet that got ran over; a person died so it is technically negligent homicide, which needs to be dealt with by the justice system.
*Negligent homicide** is the killing of another person through gross negligence or without malice. It often includes death that is the result of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle, which includes the operation of a boat or snowmobile*
Goodlucktoyou
This is not a police matter, it is a family counseling matter.
kurisupisu
Kids should not be playing around on farms-they are not playgrounds
smithinjapan
While this seems most certainly like an accident, it was entirely preventable. And sadly, only now does the father know that more than ever. Probably asking himself why he allowed them to play on the bundle of rolled up grass right where he was riding, and there is a very good reason why he is right to ask that.
Mirai Hayashi
It's negligent homicide, which is police matter
wtfjapan
This is not a police matter, it is a family counseling matter.
actually no, every premature death that is either accidental or intentional is a police matter
If the prosecutors feel that it was accidental and the suffering caused is enough punishment then fine, if
the father was intoxicated which is negligence then that should be punishable also. If it was murder well then you know that answer to that. An investigation needs to be sure that it isnt murder otherwise every murder will be stated as an accident