A 78-year-old man died after he was hit by two cars, one of which kept going, in Machida, Tokyo, police said Sunday.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. Friday. The victim, Soji Kuramachi, was crossing a two-lane road when he was struck by one car that knocked him into the path of an oncoming car in the opposite lane, Fuji TV reported. The second car hit him and kept going.
Kuramachi was taken to hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
The driver of the first car, a 66-year-old woman, was quoted by police as saying Kuramachi seemed to come out nowhere and she hit him before she saw him.
Police are examining street surveillance camera footage to try and identify the car that kept going.
© Japan Today
8 Comments
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smithinjapan
We were just talking the other day about how no one pays any attention to the zebra crossings in safety Japan and speeds right through them, but without any further details we don't know what happened here. It sounds more likely that Mr. Kuramachi probably just decided to cross suddenly in the middle of nowhere, and I see people do THAT all the time, too, usually without even looking before they start to cross.
Monozuki
The chances were that the second car driver made up his/her own mind like I just got dragged into a mess and thought like it's not my fault, and got away immediately.
darknuts
Was he crossing legally? Was he using a crosswalk? Its not mentioned. As someone who almost hit an old Woman walking out in the street with no crosswalk and no light, I have to ask these questions.
Ayako Cleavin
It is very difficult for me to establish a facts what exactly happened on a particular section of road on machida , Tokyo ! Is there a zebra crossing near by? , for example, and also was that elderly person who had experienced " disoriented " himself ?, and " did that elderly person have any difficulty in Normal walking on daily basis ? ....even those 2 car driveres, did they slowdown and pay proper cautions on road while driving .... , did 2 drivers have any alcohol drinks before getting behind wheels ? Many questions have to be answered and close examinations are qeruired to be conducted by traffic accident lawyers and police side! Lad one more there would be remote possibility of elderly person had heart attack with unnoticed and missed any kind of medications he was provided from local doctor ....
WA4TKG
Life in the big city
Yubaru
Still hot and run, whether the 2nd car, 1st car, or whatever car, if you hit something, better to stop than run. That's what insurance is for.
Evidently you dont know Japan, pedestrians have the right of way on all roads with the exception of toll roads.
Did you even READ the article before posting? Odds are slim that a 66 year old woman here is going to be out drinking and driving.
NathalieB
Yes, they do. Doesn't preclude them from acting stupidly though. Legally the drivers will be at fault. I think he was just asking if the guy was acting stupidly, not legally.
Gelasio Valdez
Another case of the MIS guided traffic safety guidelines. Cross walks, lighting, and hit and run now to make a criminally case. Happens all the time especially around Obirin University's neighborhood. The insurance will pay for his death or the country of Japan. A great follow up with TV Court will make top news like sports and the stock market.