84-year-old man dies after being hit by car; driver arrested
TOKYO —
Police on Sunday arrested a 49-year-old man after the car he was driving struck and killed an 84-year-old man in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Saturday afternoon.
According to police, the victim, identified as Hideo Motohashi, had just left his home to attend a festival at about 4:30 p.m. when he was struck by a car driven by Hiroyuki Mikami, TBS reported. Motohashi was crossing the street at the time of the accident, police said. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Mikami, who has been charged with dangerous driving resulting in death, was quoted by police as saying he took his eyes of the road for a second.
Japan Today
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-3
Elbuda Mexicano
I really doubt this stupid bastard only took his eyes off the road for ONLY ONE SECOND, my guess, either drunk, or messing around with his cellphone, etc..RIP poor year old man up in Saitama.
-4
Pukey2
Many many a times, I've been in situations here where I'm already half way cross the road, and yet a lot of drivers still refuse to spare 3 seconds of their lives to stop and let me finish crossing. Only a few days, it happened while I was riding my bicycle. I've had cars swerve round me, missing me by inches. This also happens where there is a big 'tomare' sign painted on the road for drivers to stop. Until something changes for the better, I rate Japanese drivers just (only just) slightly above those from China. I notice that a lot of drivers, when they turn right, they don't look right, and when they turn left, they don't look left.
0
Disillusioned
Another "took his eyes off the road for a second!" their is wata too much complacency and irresponsibility among drivers in Japan. Yesterday I saw a taxi driver with a newspaper spread across the steering wheel while he was driving. They seem to think it is cool to multi-task while driving.
2
CrazyJoe
A vehicle going 40 kilometers per hour is traveling at 11.11 meters per second, at 60 kilometers per hour it is traveling at.16.66 meters per second. Try to keep your eyes on the road.
0
Alphaape
I hate that the 84 year old man had to die, but before I begin bashing the driver, this story leaves a lot lacking. What type of road was it? Was he crossing at a light and in a crosswalk, or did he just dart in the street. Many times driving here in Japan, I have seen people just walk out into the street, especially if it is one not clearly marked and leaves you no room to maneuver and just hold up their hand. I understand pedestrians have the right of way in most cases, but still, the law of gross tonnage applies, i.e. a car can't just stop on a dime and pedesrians need to be mindful of the road just as drivers should be.
1
Utrack
RIP
5
Frungy
I agree. Today a cyclist just darted out into the road in front of my car, and I had to swerve wildly to avoid him (and nearly hit a light pole!), evidently he didn't see me (not his fault necessarily, the Japanese government insists on putting trees on the road side of the road (where they block vision of the road) rather than on the building/rice field side of the road (where they would have the same effect in terms of shade, but not obstruct vision).
The laws of the land are all very fine and well, but they become very unfair when the laws require drivers to defy the laws of physics. The laws of the universe come first.
3
MrsT1
You know.... I have just converted my licence here and started driving, and realized how much much harder it is here to drive safely compared to back home. Yes half the problem is narrow roads and then all the taxis/other vehicles which illegally stop along the sides of the roads. But it is also the pedestrians - they walk everywhere (even on the roads in my area), and cyclists on the footpaths, who do just willy nilly cross the road, cross quickly out of nowhere on the flashing green man etc. i have to be so many times more alert than back home and I can see how a momentary lapse in concentration could end in disaster. Don't get me wrong - I'm not excusing the drivers for accidents BUT I am saying it takes a lot more skill and care to drive safely here compared to some other countries.
0
ExportExpert
Lots of times these people just wander around on the road like loose cattle, not always the car drivers fault sometimes you cannot just stop law of physics applies and the cattle need to remember that when wandering willy nilly amongst the traffic.
3
Tom DeMicke
Unless it was criminal negligence (ex: impaired driving, wreckless driving) then I'm not sure this should be in the 'crime's section. Anyway, sad story.
2
Gobshite
Sad story, but it could just as well be the pedestrian's fault. Japanese drivers in my opinion show very little regard for other road users, however the same can be said about pedestrians and cyclists.
Just this morning while driving along a narrow, winding country road, a cyclist riding in the opposite direction, but on my side of the road came into contact with my door mirror. Fortunately he didn't fall off, but it could have been so much worse.... and I'd probably be in jail.
Also the whole traffic light scenario where cars and pedestrians have green light at the same time baffles me....
1
MeanRingo
This was an accident. I am glad the driver didn't take off, which is so often the case in Japan. He is going to have a helluva fight to not spend the next several years in jail. The old dude, well, he lived a long life. Sad that it had to end. I wonder who could have prevented this, the driver or the pedestrian? No way of knowing from this article.
0
Denon
Was the old man deaf or blind? How did he miss a car coming? Did he think he was stepping onto a grassy field rather than a motorway? Did he figure that the ridiculous law giving pedestrians the right of way no matter what, made his festival jimbei car proof? I will give one pinky that the slightest bit of caution on his part could have avoided this accident and saved his life. Its also very likely that more caution on the part of the motorist still would have let to an accident, just a less damaging one.
This arrest is not justice. Neither will it be justice when they wreck his life, and they will. Mostly, this is about crucifying him to make an example, so as to scare the bejesus out of other drivers, and get them to be as cautious as possible. And its not fair at all to the poor man who had a fool stumble in front of his car, no matter the result on every body else. Another part of this might be the sheer glee of police having power over people, and since only one is living, its only fun to try and pin the blame on him. Dead men dont cry and beg for mercy ya know!
0
UsagitoSaru
Why are people blaming both sides? I don't see how a man in his 80's has the ability to "dart" into the road. He could have crossed at the wrong time but this is not said. In the case of the driver he could have been doing bad he might not have been doing bad. The truth remains though that there are allot of drivers and pedestrians that don't pay attention when they are at cross walks. I pay attention and this has saved me from being hit by drivers whom aren't paying attention and believe me I encounter these people every single day while I walk to work. Aichi prefecture in general is known for their high rate of traffic accidents due to irresponsible driving. There are many drivers that cannot wait for lights to change and begin to pull up on cross walks where there are people walking and I have seen others and myself close to being hit by these impatient people but then again I have seen impatient pedestrians cross in the wrong parts of the roads as well. Don't condemn either of them until all facts are displayed in front of us. The fact of the matter still remains that the law states it is the drivers fault in this case. Sad but true.
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