An 8-year-old boy suffered a fractured skull Wednesday after he was struck by a vehicle on his way home from rajio taiso (radio calisthenics), an exercise routine performed to music that is typically done with groups in a park.
According to the police and the fire department, the accident occurred at around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, Sankei Shimbun reported A mini-truck driven by a 73-year-old male company employee was traveling along a prefectural road when it hit the boy who was crossing the street. The child was rushed to hospital and remained in a serious condition on Thursday.
Police said the boy was heading home after attending the early morning radio calisthenics program during his summer vacation. He was crossing the street alone when the accident occurred.
© Japan Today
9 Comments
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Hollytree
Really hope he will be ok.
Eppee
I am surprised to read that, we don't live in the same Japan. I find the drivers (in big cities at least) pretty fearless, and their respect of pedestrian crossings at at best anecdotic. How many times I've been close to being killed by a cab driver...
El Rata
*I wish him a speedy recovery
James
Difficult to say who is at fault here. I have experienced both reckless driving and pedestrians crossing the street in front of me without even looking while on my bicycle. Even had mothers riding their bicycles with their children in the back on the wrong side of the road coming directly in my path.
yokohamarides
This windshield perspective victim blaming is disgusting.
N.M.
A 8-year old kid should not walk alone so early in the morning. Parents are irresponsible.
El Rata
Poor kid I wish And of course, the perpetrator had to be a grandpa behind the wheel. People over the age of 60 shouldn't be driving, period.
Droll Quarry
I'm sure the consensus will be that it is the older drives fault, drag him out and rip up his drives license. BUT, in a country where there are few sidewalks and kids have no fear of traffic there needs to be more emphasis placed on continual training and safety training for the children. Kids here know drivers will try every thing possible to avoid hitting them and thus push their luck to the limit as a game of chicken with cars.