A truck crashed into a line of elementary school students in Yachimata City, Chiba Prefecture, killing and injuring five children, and a driver arrested said to an investigation, "I bought sake at a convenience store before the accident. I drank it in the car." I found out in an interview with the police that I made a statement.

On the 28th of last month, Yuto Tanii (8), a third grader in elementary school, and Kaihito Kawasome (7), a second grader in elementary school, died in an accident in which a truck crashed into a line of elementary school students on their way home from school in Yachimata City, Chiba Prefecture. In addition, an 8-year-old girl became unconscious and seriously injured by 7- and 6-year-old boys.



Police have arrested 60-year-old Hiroshi Umezawa, who was driving a truck, and are investigating him on suspicion of being fatally injured in dangerous driving, alleging that alcohol had interfered with normal driving.



According to the police, Umezawa said in response to the investigation so far, "I bought alcohol at a convenience store before the accident. I drank it in the car."



In the car, although it is not clear when he drank it, an empty container of shochu was also found.



Police are planning to investigate further about the situation of drinking.

One week after the accident

On the 5th, one week after the accident, local people visited the site and held hands in front of the flower stand and handed flowers.



A woman in her 80s, who lives near the house of a boy who died in an accident, said, "I felt sorry for him. I just want my family not to feel sick because of the death of my child." I did.



A man in his twenties who lives nearby said, "I gave flowers with the thought of holding back my tears and feeling at ease. I also have a son, so I lost my life in such a tragic accident and my heart hurts." It was.

Maintenance of guardrails was not realized

According to Yachimata City, the city road where the accident occurred this time was that the PTA of the elementary school requested the maintenance of guardrails every year for four years from 2008.



However, the city says that the maintenance was not realized due to restrictions on financial resources.



Shinji Kitamura, the mayor of Yachimata City, said at a press conference on the 30th of last month, "We are sorry that we could not take sufficient measures at this location due to limited financial resources. I would like you to understand that we were doing it in order. "



In response to this accident, the city has requested the police to keep the maximum speed near the site, which is currently 60 km, lower, and has taken measures such as drawing a line indicating the outside of the roadway. The policy is to strengthen safety measures.

Utilization of the school bus that attracts attention

The use of school buses is attracting attention as one of the ways to ensure safety when going to and from school, as safety measures for school routes are not sufficiently advanced.



In Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, we have introduced 25 school buses in total for the seven elementary and junior high schools in the city in line with the consolidation and abolition of schools.



Currently, it is used by about 700 children and students who have become inconvenient to go to school due to consolidation, and the city says that it leads to safe commuting to and from school for children commuting from afar.



Seven years ago, at "Shimosa Midori Gakuen," where five elementary and junior high schools in the same district were integrated, six school buses were running, and children were enthusiastically attending school on the bus for five days. ..



Principal Fujita said, "I think that each person's awareness is important for traffic safety, so I would like to repeat educational activities."



On the other hand, the cost is an issue in advancing the introduction of school buses.



Municipalities can only receive subsidies from the national government for the cost of introduction, such as when schools are consolidated or abolished.



Under these circumstances, Chiba Prefecture was demanding the government to relax the requirements for subsidizing school buses in response to the accident in Yachimata City, and Governor Kumagai of Chiba Prefecture said, "It is time for children to go to and leave school as the birthrate declines. As the number of cases is expected to increase, expanding assistance to school buses will be a means of ensuring safety. "