2-year-old girl dies in hit-and-run while crossing street in Yokohama

Tuesday 30th June, 02:30 PM JST

YOKOHAMA —

A 2-year-old girl died in a probable hit-and-run on Tuesday after she was hit by a car as she was walking across a street at a pedestrian crossing in Yokohama City, police said.

Police said the girl, Sara Onishi, was walking behind her mother, Mona, 38, at around 11.40 a.m. at a crossing in Nishi Ward, when a car turning right hit Sara and failed to stop at the scene. She was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead about an hour later.

Police said the woman and her daughter had just attended an event at a nearby kindergarten, and were on their way home when Sara was hit by the car. An eyewitness told police that the woman was walking ahead of her daughter when the incident occurred. He said the girl was screaming but then suddenly became silent.

There were no brake marks left on the road and police are considering the possibility that the driver did not notice the girl before hitting her. They are continuing their search for the driver and vehicle.

News reports

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Latest 15 of 77 Total Comments Show All

pointofview at 11:55 AM JST - 2nd July

Doesnt matter if theres a light or not. Drivers just dont stop and take a look here. They go around corners at deadly speeds. Horrible drivers in this country. Im almost hit everyday at the same light after school. There are dozens of kids crossing at this light too. Very dangerous. Im always wondering why the cops are never out to stop the recklessness of drivers especially when countless kids bike and walk to school in Japan. Irresponsible parenting on the mothers part, also.
beavis at 11:58 AM JST - 2nd July

@disillusioned.

I also use these types of articles in a beneficial way. Every time my wife gets one of those pangs to move back to Japan, I present her with one of these stories while she is changing our infant and her urges to reinstall are instantly quelled.
dracpoo2 at 12:13 PM JST - 2nd July

The fact of the matter, the biggest part of this matter is THE CHILD WAS WALKING BEHIND HER MOTHER. In tis case the mother should have been the one injured and she would have probably survived. God I am　sick of this type of neglect. Damn man.
RandomTask at 12:17 PM JST - 2nd July

Time to ban right turns on intersections I think. Put up proper lights to tell people its safe to turn right instead of trying to sneak across between people on foot, cars shouldnt be allowed near a crossing when there are people on it.
griff at 12:18 PM JST - 2nd July

LEFT turn :/
gogogo at 01:01 PM JST - 2nd July

fusedentropy: read the article the mother was walking several meters ahead of her child not looking and not taking care of the child. If you turned a blind corner in a van NO ONE would see a 2 year old child because they are too small and the car front too large.
BigInJapan at 03:27 PM JST - 2nd July

How tall is a 2 years old child? 80 cm? J drivers cannot spot anything smaller then an elephant, so I don't think she had any chance on the crossing to be recognized.
manager at 03:47 PM JST - 2nd July

First of all, right turning by cars at intersections are quite dangerous for pedestrians. The driver probably was trying to move quickly enough to escape the incoming traffic (opposit) his/her direction and it leaves him with paying less attention. Yes, the baby is small, it could have been difficult for the driver to see her fast enough to stop, considering he was trying to turn right as quickly as possible. I think a 2 year old infant should never be allowed to cross the road without holding her hand or holding her. 1. I blame the mother for neglecting the child 2. I blame the driver for paying less attention 3. traffic lights should be such that: pedestrians moving, cars stop ie gree for pedestrians and red for all cars
am1301 at 06:10 PM JST - 2nd July

I also use these types of articles in a beneficial way. Every time my wife gets one of those pangs to move back to Japan, I present her with one of these stories while she is changing our infant and her urges to reinstall are instantly quelled.

Yes, these accidents happen only in japan and nowhere else.
griff at 06:14 PM JST - 2nd July

right turning by cars at intersections are quite dangerous for pedestrians

one last time, LEFT TURN!! japan drives on the LEFT, therefore it is turning LEFT on a signal that is legal!! turning right on a red is legal in america, because america drives on the right

LEEEEFFFFT!!!
mmwk2008 at 01:06 AM JST - 3rd July

It is easy to pass Critism here yet for the Mother who has lost a child, she will always be asking herself if she could have done something differently - this happens to us all in such situations. Perhaps she left the child on the "spur of the moment" because it was complaining so much and causing here stress... who knows except herself ?

For the driver of the car - I can't pass any form of judgement since I've not got any information upon the road condition (full-of potholes, upon a hill, etc.. to make a judgement... was such information given out ?)

Personally, I would enforce holding of hands whilst crossing a Road with minors.. the Japanese (?) way of having someone hold their hands vertically in the air actually makes some sense, albeit stupidly when you see some adults doing so when in groups of other adults, but for kids - I'd encourage it.

Back in the UK, a long time ago, the Government introduced a road safety campaign called the Green-Cross Code, in which three simple words were reiterated time & time again: Stop, Look, & Listen. Perhaps the same could be done here ?
gogogo at 06:50 PM JST - 3rd July

mmwk2008: What do you mean? We know she left her child alone, it doesn't matter her state of mind, if she left in the "spur of the moment" it is still the mothers fault. She has to live with her child dieing but also has to live with the fact she left her child alone for whatever reason and if she had not there is a 99% chance the child did not have to die.
elbudamexicano at 06:44 AM JST - 4th July

I can not even try to imagine how much pain and sorrow this family must be going through, yes the mother was careless, but I do pray and hope that the hit and run driver burns in hell for all of eternity! The sweet, innocent 2 year old girl, RIP. May we all take more care of our children and learn to drive safer and SLOWER!!!
chuckers at 01:24 PM JST - 6th July

it seems that left on red is legal.

Left on red is only legal if there is a white sign with a blue arrow pointing left on it at the intersection. Otherwise, it is illegal.
koneko22 at 03:34 PM JST - 6th July

Try crossing a street in Los Angeles or any major suburban location....I'll take Tokyo or anyplace in Japan over Southern California...even though state law states pedestrians have the right of way...the minute your foot leaves the curb....your fair game for someone driving and talking on a cellphone...illegal now..what a joke....eating, reading the newspaper, etc, etc....I have stayed in many parts of Tokyo and obeyed the traffic signals...no problem....but the mother should have been holding her daughter's hand or carrying her across the intersection...common sense.