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Driver killed, 5 passengers injured after car hits traffic light pole

12 Comments

A 16-year-old boy driving a station wagon was killed and his five passengers aged 16 and 17 were seriously injured after the vehicle slammed into a traffic light pole in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Sunday morning.

According to police, the accident occurred at around 12:40 a.m. All six occupants of the car were taken to hospital with severe injuries, but the 16-year-old boy, who did not have a driver's license, was pronounced dead on arrival, Fuji TV reported.

Police said visibility was good at the time and that it appears the station wagon was speeding.

Police said they will interview the five male and female passengers after they recover from their injuries.

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12 Comments
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A tragic loss of a young life. Perhaps he was distracted by the passengers, and maybe he wasn't wearing a seat belt.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

what a shame when one learns the science of physics mixed with reckless driving regardless of the countless infomercials where the crash dummies never end up getting the best of a crash impact

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Joyride?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

TumbleDryAug. 31, 2015 - 07:01AM JST

Joyride?

That's what I was thinking. Seems odd they don't mention the rather important fact that the car must have been being driven illegally, possibly stolen, and if not stolen then who did they get it from?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Joyride?

Possibly a joyride but the more important thing one should ask is shy are 16 and 17 yr. olds out alone past midnight? My guess is that these were probably not the high school type and the group of kids that hang out at DonQuxotie late at night.

Though I will admit, that in my youth we teenagers did get to hang out, but normally it was at a teen club and there was some semblance of adults around. The 16 yr. old had access to a car or the skills he thought that he could drive. I wonder if he had taken any drivers education courses.

Tragic all around, and I am sure that this event will stay with those kids for the rest of their lives. I hope that it is also a wake-up call for the survivors, to take life more serious (still have fun but be aware of what you are doing) and that they don't become some future whack-jobs we often read about on JT about doing something horrible to someone because they were stressed or felt hopeless.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The car entered the pavement/sidewalk before hitting the traffic light pole. Lucky there was no-one else killed.

http://news.tbs.co.jp/jpg/news2574185_6.jpg

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I wonder if he had taken any drivers education courses.

This isn't America, where you get a learner's permit at 15, driver's ed at high school, and then a license on your 16th birthday. Here in Japan you have to wait until you are 18.

I myself got my license at 16, and spent as much time driving as I could afford (gas was expensive). I admit I was not a very safe driver, and on Friday and Saturday nights I would stay out as late as I could, usually with friends.

I am sure that this young man and his friends were only having fun, which is the cause of a great many accidents, even for those of us with more experience. By best wishes to his family, and to the other families involved.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I see this type of driving behaviour all the time where I live. Usually a mix of young teens of both sexes. Speeding at night and running red lights.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I hope 5 remain boys and girls get wise by his death.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I remember being curious and taking my step-father's car for a short ride when I was about sixteen. Luckily, I drove slowly and only did one trip around the neighborhood and called it quits. RIP to the young man and speedy ane full recovery to the others.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why all the downers? You don't think it's possible he was distracted by a car full of his friends, or that he may not have been wearing a seat belt resulting in his more severe injuries? Do you think the light pole jumped in front of him unexpectedly.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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