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A 66-year-old man died after being hit from behind by a car in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward, police said Sunday.
According to police, Satoshi Fujine was walking along a street at 3:45 p.m. Saturday when he was hit by a car driven by Osamu Matsugane, 68, TV Asahi reported. Fujine suffered severe head injuries and was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Matsugane, who was arrested at the scene on a charge of negligent driving resulting in injury, was quoted by police as saying he mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake.
Police said they plan to change the charge to negligent driving resulting in death.
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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khulifi
Usual Japan Standard Excuse ... (( mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake ))
nath
Excuse: an explanation offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or for release from an obligation, promise, etc.
Reason: a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.
This is a reason, not an excuse.
team player
Sometimes it seems like manual transmissions should be the rule for all but the handicapped. The clutch was a really nice fail safe....hmmmm....maybe someone should invent a dummy clutch that won't let the car move unless its depressed up until you attain the speed of 10 km an hour? Give the left foot something to do! And stop these geezers from killing people!
Dan Lewis
Did you expect him to say, "Yah, I hit the accelerator on purpose. And I aimed for that ol' b*stard, too!" Do you really think he meant to hit the poor guy with his car!? (It sounds like you do.)
Kobe White Bar Owner
One of the problems with a place where 99% of cars are automatic "mario carts". Any melon can drive a Auto hence the low driving skills of the average Japanese. Any1 who disagrees does not drive in Japan.
shallots
Moral luck. This happens all the time with lucky results I expect.
nath
I hereby propose mandatory annual drivers license renewals including hearing acuity and driving exams for over-65s.
Dennis Bauer
I hope that that safety system becomes mandatory in all cars, than he has to say i accidentally pushed the override button and the accelerator.
mitoguitarman
Team Player: "Geezer," ageism returns and the Mod is asleep again.
Mori Chibiko
I have done that on a few times. My dyslexia can affect my driving, but it's extremely rare. It's more towards math where it occurs. I feel bad for the driver. He may not of meant it, accidents do happen people. We humans are not perfect, remember that.
lucabrasi
I've done it, turning into a small town square where there was a busy market being held.
Thank God I didn't hit anyone; I've never driven since.
Brings me out in a cold sweat even writing about it.