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Charges of negligence and leaving the scene of a crime have been dropped against a taxi driver who was arrested over the death of a passenger who fell out of the taxi to his death on an expressway in Katsuragi, Nara Prefecture, on Dec 13.
A spokesman for the Nara District Public Prosecutor's Office said there was no evidence that the taxi driver, Kazuo Terai, 64, could have done anything to prevent the death of his passenger, Yasukatsu Okuda, 71, and that it was possible that Okuda could have fallen out of the taxi without the driver knowing it, Fuji TV reported Friday.
According to police, the small security camera inside the taxi captured footage of Okuda, who appeared to be drunk, falling out of the right side back seat of the taxi traveling along an expressway at 12:40 a.m. on Dec 13. Terai apparently was not aware that the door had opened and that the passenger had tumbled out.
Okuda was hit by a vehicle following the taxi and died of injuries in hospital later.
Terai arrived at the intended destination about 10 minutes after the incident. However, upon glancing at the backseat to announce their arrival, he was quoted by police as saying he was surprised that the passenger had gone. The taxi driver told police he got out of the car and after checking the back seat more thoroughly, proceeded to head back toward the highway hoping to find his missing passenger.
Police later arrested Terai for leaving the scene of an accident.
Terai has denied the charges and told police that at first, he had thought his passenger was a fare dodger, trying to get off without paying after they had arrived at their destination.
Terai told police he heard a noise in the back seat at the time Okuda fell out, and that he asked him “Are you OK?” without turning around to see what had happened. A plastic partition behind the taxi driver makes it hard to see anyone sitting directly behind him.
Police said that Okuda called his wife to say he’d been drinking in Osaka and that he was feeling sick. The video indicates that he may have opened the door to vomit and then fell out of the taxi.
After the incident, police charged Terai for leaving the scene of an accident.
Terai was quoted by police as saying, "I honestly did not even notice that the passenger had fallen out."
The prosecutor's office said there was no evidence to suggest any crime was committed.
© Japan Today
25 Comments
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Kittychosen
Well at least someone has seen sense!
gogogo
I thought you couldnt open the right side of the cab (child lock enabled) and only the taxi driver could open the left?
Speed
After watching the video a couple of times, I think the cab driver truly didn't realize the passenger fell out. I'm glad he the charges were dropped.
CrazyJoe
I respect the public procurator's decision. Good there was a video of it.
paulinusa
"Terai apparently was not aware that the door had opened and that the passenger had tumbled out."
Wouldn't a dashboard light indicate the door was opened?
ReformedBasher
If the driver knew the passenger had fallen out, he would have done more than ask if everything was okay and kept driving to the destination.
Lowly
When I saw the tape, I didn't think the driver was culpable. Glad he's exonerated.
(Where's the hang'im crowd this time??)
GW
The keystones fail once again, they really need to start hiring people who actually USE their brains!!!
Kapuna
Why didn't the cops arrest the driver of the car that hit him?
Gobshite
@Kapuna
Hope you are not a cop. This happened on a highway, 80kmh speed limit, most cars go faster. If a body suddenly falls in front of your car even at the limit of 80kmh, there would be zero chance to stop in time. Add to that the time, 12:40am isn't exactly daylight......
Elbuda Mexicano
This happened in Kansai, Osaka, etc...so if you all drive down there never be surprised by ANYTHING!! Lucky old taxi driver!!
sillygirl
Glad to hear this news.
Star-viking
The driver has probably already lost his job, has had no income for the past few weeks, and so will probably be in debt with no hope of paying it off.. Better than rotting in jail, but by no means a good luck story.
slumdog
Based on the evidence, I think this is a fair judgement.
Thunderbird2
But how did he not see the interior light coming on? Doors aren't silent when they close... my car (a Honda) bleeps at you if you have an open door when starting the engine... these taxi cabs are a bit more advanced than a 10 year old Fit.
shanabelle
Glad he was not prosecuted!
jumpultimatestars
Could someone please provide a link to this video you keep mentioning..??
DudeDeuce
Good news
Though this happening is a rarity, I bet taxi companies will take measures like drivers checking in on the passengers or both doors having locks controlled by the driver.
One thing I notice in Japan taxis, rides are awfully quiet most of the time.
Lowly
jump-
the vid link was either in the article or posted by a commenter on the article when this story first appeared. search the crime news of JT a few days or a week back for a similar headline and you are bound to find it.
Elbuda Mexicano
The video was all over the internet, now I am not sure if it is still up. Maybe the old guy falling out and getting killed, too much for his family to keep seeing on tv, the internet, etc...RIP?? I do feel sorry for this old taxi driver but at the same time, it IS JAPANESE law to WEAR a seat belt now, and YES for those in the back seats, not only the drivers so?? If I owned a taxi company here in Japan, I would make SURE everyone is wearing their seat belts!!! To try and AVOID this kind of stupid accident.
Mirai Hayashi
Finally...some good human judgement
GW
To the 8 who negged me, do you people realize this taxi driver would be locked up & likely being interrogated for hours on end if he didn't have that VIDEO!
So yeah the keystones blow it again, an all too common occurrence in Japan!
Lowly
Elbuda-
My understanding is it is law to wear seatbelts for the driver and the passenger in the front seat, not the back.
I don't know if that is different for taxis, but whenever I ride in one, they tell me to put on my belt if in the front, but never say so if in the back. So I believe it is the same for them.
wildwest
Door opens at 80 kph i would notice, but that would stop him falling out
Richard bHard
I have heard that taxi drivers have the best lawyers next to Sony!