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U.S. Air Force officer one of two killed in car crash in Aomori Prefecture

12 Comments

A U.S. Air Force officer and one other person were killed in a car crash Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, on Saturday, the U.S. military and police announced Monday. A third person was injured, police said.

According to police and the fire department, a car crashed into a shed on the side of the road in Sakaemachi, Misawa City, at around 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, local media reported. Two bodies were found inside the car. Both were declared dead at the scene.

Yuta Onoue, 20, a company employee, was thrown from the car. He was taken to a hospital in Hachinohe City, with injuries including a fractured left thigh and burns to his back.

The U.S. Misawa Air Base announced on its Facebook page Monday that one of the deceased was an airman at the base. The post said: “An off-base auto accident occurred yesterday, July 14th, in Misawa City at approximately 4:40 a.m., resulting in two deaths and one injury. One of the deceased is an Airman from Misawa Air Base. The accident also caused a fire in the immediate vicinity. The injured occupant was taken to a local hospital via ambulance.  

“The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The situation is currently under investigation, and more information will be provided when it becomes available.”

According to residents near the scene, the car had a "Y" license plate used by U.S. military personnel.

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12 Comments
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RIP dear service member.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

So many USA servicemen, so many tragedies in Japan of all places. 70+ years of military occupation is a thing.

Condolences to the surviving family.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

Thanks God, there's no additional fire and crash victims from that shed or house next to it. All people that becoming victims are people inside that car, two death and one still recovering from injury.

https://news.goo.ne.jp/article/ntv_news24/nation/ntv_news24-2024071508845599.html

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Just a little confusing? The headline says Air Force “officer” was killed. But, the article says “airman” which is E-1 through E-4. Those are enlisted ranks?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

An "airman" in USAF usually refers to an enlisted person, also known as a "non-commissioned officer" (NCO). Loose reporting only adds to the confusion. Once the deceased is actually identified, the confusion should be cleared.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

According to a neighbour who heard the sound of the crash: "It was incredibly fast. It made a banging sound, like a racer riding a car, and then it passed by.''

1 ( +1 / -0 )

That's what happens when you speed.

R.I.S.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

An "airman" in USAF usually refers to an enlisted person, also known as a "non-commissioned officer" (NCO). Loose reporting only adds to the confusion. Once the deceased is actually identified, the confusion should be cleared

This is wrong. Lower case "a" airman refers to E-1 to E-4. Upper case "A" Airman refers to anyone, enlisted or officer, in the USAF.

The person who wrote the FB post from Misawa PA was being vague because they did not want to release specifics until notification to the family.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Actually, if you look at the Misawa AFB facebook page they use big A Airman to refer to the deceased, which fits.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

A traffic fatality is terrible no matter the nationality of the victim or location. The US military does it's best these days to minimize negative activity by its members to the local populace. It wasn't always that way. Respect all and drive carefully.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I sincerely hope J-T will follow up on this sad story with more information on the cause of the mishap when that information becomes available. Thanks in advance.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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