On the 15th, two 19-year-old men and women were hit by a light passenger car at a rotary in front of a station in Kagamiishi-cho, Fukushima Prefecture. A male university student was killed and the other person was unconscious and in critical condition. An interview with the police revealed that there was no trace of the car being stolen.
Police are investigating the possibility that the 72-year-old driver may have mistakenly pressed the accelerator and brake.
Just before 4 p.m. on the 15th, two people, a man and a woman, were hit by a light passenger car as they got off a driving school shuttle bus at a rotary in front of JR Kagamiishi Station in Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
As a result of this accident, Tomoya Hoshino (19), a first-year university student from Miyashiro Town, Saitama Prefecture, died, and a 19-year-old woman also suffered a fractured bone in her skull and was left unconscious.
Police arrested Hideko Omokawa (72), a part-time employee living in the town who was driving the light passenger car, at the scene and are investigating her on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in death or injury. Police interviews revealed that there were no signs of the brakes being applied.
According to the police, the light passenger car appears to have entered from the exit of the rotary in front of the station without stopping at an intersection with a stop sign, and then headed straight for the station building. He was running at a speed of
Police believe the driver may have mistakenly pressed the accelerator and brake, and are investigating the circumstances in detail.
Flowers laid at the accident scene: ``Unfortunate''
At the accident site on the morning of the 16th, staff from the town's community facility attached to the station were offering incense and flowers.
Misao Yagi (67), one of the staff members who was at the facility at the time and called the police and fire department, said, ``I heard a huge noise and when I turned around, I saw a young woman lying on the ground with broken glass.'' I did.
Regarding the death of a male university student in the accident, he said, ``I am deeply saddened by the loss of his life at the young age of 19, and it brings me to tears.''