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8-year-old boy dies after being hit by car in Saitama

15 Comments

An 8-year-old boy died after being hit by a car in Misato, Saitama Prefecture, on Saturday.

According to police, the boy, identified as Sodai Takao, had been jogging with his mother. As they were heading home at about 7 a.m., the boy went on ahead and was struck by the car turning right onto the main road at a T-junction, NTV reported. There are no traffic lights or a pedestrian crossing at junction.

The boy was taken to hospital with severe head injuries and was pronounced dead shortly afterward, police said.

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15 Comments
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Stupid bastard car driver could NOT see a little 8 year old jogging out in the middle of no where Misato, Saitama?? Poor little boy! RIP

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

All cars have this nice blind spot between the wind shield and the driver's side door that conveniently moves about the same pace as a pedestrian when turning right.

Nevertheless, the driver will be allowed no excuses, despite the fact that the boy surely must have seen and heard the car coming and was crossing illegally.

My sympathy to the boy, the mother and the driver.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Prayers

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

More misery for Misato

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

how very unfortunate.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So sad. Keep your eyes on your children.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

A T-intersection. The boy was jogging. Sounds like the driver didn't slow down or stop before making histurn. Driving 101 lesson here.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

An intersection with no lights or crosswalk? I'm willing to bet there was no stop sign either. I have a four way intersection near my house with no light,crosswalk or stop sign. Almost had an accident there.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There is a intersection like this next to my house. I have almost been hit by a car 5 times in the past 2 years at this place as people will turn without slowing down to see if there are pedestrians. There are no cross lights here and people crossing follow the traffic lights but this does not stop drivers from dangerously turning in. Many car accidents happen in the same spot because of this and 2 deaths have happened resulting in hit and runs. I can't really blame anybody here but the driver for not being extra careful.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Sounds like the driver didn't slow down or stop before making histurn. Driving 101 lesson here.

@TheDevilsAssistant--If there was no stop sign or light, he had no need to stop. Depending on his speed, he may have no reason to slow down. That said, he may well have stopped. A ton of steel vs. an 8 year old boy is no joke even at 25kph, which is a bit quick of the mark, but not insane.

I should think what is need is a walking and jogging 101 class. It does matter how strict the driving rules are. You can start a torture program on drivers who hit pedestrians even. It will not change the laws of physics. No pedestrian should ever take a chance with a moving car and its very easy for pedestrians to see them, hear them and stay out of their way 99.9999 percent of the time one is coming their way. The only except is when they leap onto the sidewalk or careen into restaurants, but those are very rare cases.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

A ton of steel vs. an 8 year old boy is no joke even at 25kph

Exactly. Any vehicle operating a car should understand that. Even with no stop signs or lights an operator of a vehicle should drive at a speed where he/she will always have control of the vehicle. Always expect the unexpected when driving.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Nevertheless, the driver will be allowed no excuses, despite the fact that the boy surely must have seen and heard the car coming and was crossing illegally

Illegal to cross because it's a T junction?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Drivers tend to forget these roads are not motorways and are not just for automobile traffic, but cyclists, tractors, pedestrians, etc. as well. The idea is to slow down when changing direction and double, triple check. Every driver should be aware of blind spots. Losing a child in this kind of accident causes unbearable grief lasting a life time.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Even with no stop signs or lights an operator of a vehicle should drive at a speed where he/she will always have control of the vehicle.

Lose control at 25Kph? Maybe on ice. There is nothing to suggest the driver lost control. Occam's Razor says he simply did not see the boy, else we would most likely be reading about things like skid marks, loss of control, speeding etc.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If he hit the boy, he did not have full control of his vehicle. If he knew of his blind spots, he should have slowed down or stopped to ensure it was safe to proceed. I hope you are not driving anywhere that I or my family is at

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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