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Man killed after car plows through fence and gets hit by train

21 Comments

A 70-year-old man was killed after the car he was driving plowed through the fence of a hospital parking lot and got hit by a train in Daito, Osaka Prefecture, on Saturday morning.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 9:30 a.m., Fuji TV reported. The man and his wife, 64, were driving in the parking lot of Nozaki Tokushukai Hospital when their vehicle suddenly accelerated after hitting another car. It then went through the fence and was hit by the train on the JR Katamachi Line. The car was flipped over by the impact and came to rest 10 meters away.

Police said the driver’s wife got out of the car before it hit the train. She sustained a broken arm.

JR West said there were about 150 passengers on the train but no injuries were reported.

Police believe the driver of the car pressed the accelerator instead of the brake and lost control of his car.

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21 Comments
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I know this happens to be the case with many elderly, but once you feel your car accelerating wouldn't it just be instinct to press the only other pedal (the break)?

I can't even imagine making this kind of error when I get old.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Oh, elder person again!? Authorities check-up on drives will be much strict if it still going to find more accidents, my dear seniors.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

This is an epidemic! Luckily no innocent bystanders were killed. This country desperately needs to crack down hard on this problem.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

70 is not particularly old although many of the youngsters posting here seem to think it is; there are some appalling younger drivers about and many competent older ones.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@Harry_Gatto - there are some appalling younger drivers

I guess you are referring to the 20-30 year old age group, which are responsible for 60% of road fatalities in Japan, unlike elderly drivers who are responsible for 7% of fatal accidents in Japan.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Would it be cheaper if the Government paid for drivers to ferry around old people ?

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

As soon as I read "70-year old man", I was waiting for:

pressed the accelerator instead of the brake

And there it is.

What is it going to take to get action on this? My 75-yo FIL brags about how he slept through his recertification, because it consisted of a man in a uniform, respectfully recommending the venerable attendees to please be careful, while talking directly at his PPT presentation.

Meanwhile, the same avoidable error takes lives time and time again.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Glad his wife survived

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The National Police Agency released a report on vehicle accidents during 2017 that showed older drivers are far more likely to be involved in a fatality on the nation’s roads than younger drivers.

There were 418 road fatalities involving at least one driver over the age of 75 last year – 7.7 road deaths per 100,000 drivers – more than double the number of road deaths caused by drivers below the age of 75.

Drivers 75 or older accounted for nearly 13 percent of all road accidents during the year; 168 of the 418 fatal accidents, or 40.1 percent, were single-vehicle incidents, such as a car being driven into a utility pole. In contrast, only 22.9 percent of roadway accidents among all other age groups were single-vehicle incidents.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Incidence of dementia in the aged is at 60,000 in Japan and they are on the road. You old fogies who think you can still drive as well as you did when you were young are deluded. You are a part of the problem. And when you mow down an 8 year old kid you will realize how wrong you are. All old people over the age of 65 should be banned from the roads. Road deaths would plummet as a result. And far fewer cars would have their turn signal on for hours.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Zucronium, absolutely spot on. Whenever I see an elderly driver coming toward me I'm extra vigilant.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Yes, Danger Danger ! Old people in cars !!! and an aged sticker on the vehicle... be careful of the second coming .

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Sad incident.

But let's be clear. 70 years old is not 90 years old.

Some senior citizens have issues with reflexes and confusion. Most do not. Not at 70.

But by the logic some would apply, because of the issues with a few, the vast majority should be penalized.

To be honest, the risk of an accident is far higher with very young / inexperienced drivers.

Then there are the 20~55 year old males who are far more likely to be driving while drunk.

And there are the 25~45 year old females who are mothers who are far more likely to have fender benders while zipping around during the day.

And then, of course, there are ANY males that own ANY sports car.... because, well, because they just are far more likely to drive more aggressively.

And, finally, there are just the really bad drivers of any age that just do not know how to drive.

There is no question that, as drivers get older, they should be self-aware of their limitations. As should those that are around them. But, people make mistakes. Even young people.

My condolences to the man's wife. Really really horrible for her to have to witness this firsthand.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Meanwhile, the same avoidable error takes lives time and time again.

Yes, it does, but there are many much younger drivers who make the same mistake as well.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Sounds like an action movie, glad she got out alive, too bad he didn't, but at least he won't have the opportunity to make that mistake again and make others pay for it with their lives.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Yes, it does, but there are many much younger drivers who make the same mistake as well

Totally false. Young people make different types of errors. Mentally freezing with

your foot on the accelerator is a mistake of the old.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Yes, it does, but there are many much younger drivers who make the same mistake as well.

Actually this type of error is very much associated with elderly people. Young people make different errors.

All old people over the age of 65 should be banned from the roads. 

Zucronium, I think that you picked way too young a point. But perhaps from this age drivers should have an annual reflex and cognition test.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Before we get all ageist and judgmental, let's remember that in this case there may have been extenuating circumstances such as a cardiac arrest, aneurysm or stroke. Those can also happen at ages much lower than 70.

Seventy is not necessarily old, incompetent or demented. Those ideas hark back to the turn of the 20th century when the average life expectancy for people was less than 50 years. Today each person'as condition varies according to their lifestyle, hereditary factors and character.

I believe that all drivers should be required for a reassessment exam at set intervals in their lives. Perhaps every 10 years after getting their licence. Then after having a licence for 30 years the reassessments could occur every 5 years as bad habits or health conditions can develop at any age. All drivers who are in accidents (fender benders included) should be reassessed every 5 years until they go at least 15 years accident free.

I'm a careful and responsible driver and wouldn't mind the inconvenience or cost of the reassessments if it would help manage and/or sideline the high-risk drivers. Also, the additional testing would create employment.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The wife has the wherewithal to exit a moving car, but not to pull the e-brake or push her husband's leg off the gas?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The government has been accepting licenses back from people over 70. Around 24,000 of the 60,000 (actually 57,000) drivers quoted by zurcronium above handed back their right to drive at the mandated regular testings last year. 

And more and more cars are being manufactured with automatic sensing and braking.

I think a large number of the drivers that cause this type of accident are a particular type of character, rather conservative, timid and likely to freeze in any unusual situation.

Either way, albeit slowly, things do seem to be moving in the right direction, precisely because of incidents like these being picked up and widely reported.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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