IBARAKI —

Police on Friday arrested a man for involuntary manslaughter with a motor vehicle in a hit-and-run accident after he returned to the scene of the crime.

According to reports, the incident happened around 12:30 Friday morning. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Tsukuba City resident Fumio Takaya, was driving in nearby Ushiku City when he suddenly struck 38-year-old Masanori Yoshioka, a board member at a local company.

Takaya fled from the scene, but returned about 40 minutes later and turned himself in to police. Takaya was quoted by police as saying: “I kept thinking I had hit something, and when I came back to check, there were police.”

Kyodo News Service

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12 Comments

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  tMMt at 06:49 PM JST - 23rd May

  It sounds a bit unfair to say he "fled the scene." Credit to the guy for returning, even if it did take him 40 minutes. I hope for his sake he wasn't DUI.

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  Den Den at 06:57 PM JST - 23rd May

  If he was drunk he has real courage. The judge should take this into account.

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  stirfry at 07:16 PM JST - 23rd May

  there does seem to be an awful lot of 'leaving the scene of the accident' in japan

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  BBLeo at 07:51 PM JST - 23rd May

  “I kept thinking I had hit something, and when I came back to check, there were police.” What an idiot. Why he didn't stop immediately if he though that he hit something? Sure it will help me when time comes for sentencing, and for a while behind the bars will do him good. People like him they all find the best excuses that they can figure out. Was he drinking, being on drugs or speeding??? And this time cops were on the scene before him. 'Cops are starting doing their job this time at least.'

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  elbudamexicano at 09:02 PM JST - 23rd May

  Many Japanese drivers, or Japanese behing the steering wheel of a car, turn into complete idiots. Well, this guy is maybe only 80% idiot and actually did the right thing by turning himself in.

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  Disillusioned at 09:27 PM JST - 23rd May

  If he was drunk it would be sensationalized in the headline. I often here this, "I thought I hit something!" crap. How can you not know? "Oh, I think something or someone just flew over the bonnet! Or, maybe not!" What a load of crap! It is just more cowardly BS! Whether he returned or not is irrelevant. He knew he hit someone, did a runner, got a dose of the guilts and realized he was gonna get busted either way then he went back.

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  Monoflow at 03:50 AM JST - 24th May

  Everybody who's flee a scene is just a coward, even if he/she will return later... If you cause such things, then act right, help or at least stay there. Everything else is not acceptable...

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  Smythe at 04:38 AM JST - 24th May

  Must agree that the same is happening here in Canada of so many hit & runs, with many reasons to being drunk at the time.

  I have been hit from behind a number of times when sropped at a Red light or a vehicle in front of me.

  You say "one should NOT drive a car or ride a m/c with even a bit a liquor in them", but so many say "a few beers in the afternoon will make no difference". Only they are 100% wrong.

  Only once, was a driver, of a dump truck, willing or forced to stop & admit that he had the proper insurance & said accident was his fault.

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  noirgaijin at 11:17 AM JST - 24th May

  Although most point the finger of guilt at the driver, but how often do you see pedestrians in this country stepping into the path of a motorized vehicle without looking at what's coming. The most common are those with cell phones and headset on while riding a bicycle or the late night drunk who in most cases walks off the plateform at a train station before being able to get hit by a car. Yes, he was at fault for not looking out for the possible before mention individuals and fleeing the scene, but there maybe more to the story than what's published.

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  jonobugs at 12:11 PM JST - 24th May

  The thinking in Japan is that anyone driving a motor vehicle has to be prepared for any contingency. Pedestrians need to be aware of where they are going, but that won't matter when it comes to laying blame unless the pedestrian was being a complete idiot, running out of a blind spot, etc. In cases like this, even when the blame is to the driver, there will be a lot more leniency and sympathy.

  However, the argument will fall flat with most Japanese as they will then point out that it could be a child who doesn't yet know better.

  Bottom line, a bit more education on safety as a pedestrian needs to be taught, but as I said, the blame will always fall upon the driver.

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  laconic at 03:06 PM JST - 24th May

  "I thought I hit something!" crap. How can you not know?

  Well, it was just after midnight so it was dark. It is feasible that the pedestrian stepped out from behind a parked car without looking and that the driver clipped him with his back wheel, whereupon the pedestrian fell to the ground, hit his head and died from the impact. In that scenario it wouldnt be impossible for the driver to be unsure whether he hit someone or not.

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  Osakadaz at 09:07 AM JST - 25th May

  good on the bloke for having the decency to face up to his mistake.I hope he receives some leniency for his actions.

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