2 killed after 74-yr-old disabled man drives car into Osaka restaurant

Tuesday 27th January, 05:02 AM JST

OSAKA —

Two people were killed and another injured when a 74-year-old man drove his car into a restaurant in Osaka’s Minato Ward on Monday. According to police, Masayuki Tsuda drove his car out of his garage at about 1.40 p.m. Monday, turned left and plowed straight into the Chisoya Iyo restaurant on the corner about 10 meters from his house.

A 60-year-old man inside the restaurant was killed by the impact, and another man was injured. Police said Tsuda then reversed his car out of the restaurant, hitting a 71-year-old woman on her bicycle, who later died in hospital. After hitting the woman, Tsuda then drove his car forward and hit a van parked outside the restaurant, where his car remained.

Tsuda told police he panicked and mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. Police arrested Tsuda at the scene but have since upgraded the charge to vehicular manslaughter.

Police said Tsuda’s right leg was paralyzed and his car was modified so that he could apply the accelerator and the brake with his left leg only, and that the accelerator was to the left of the brake. They also said Tsuda was on his way to renew his special parking permit for the disabled when the accident occurred.

News reports

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Latest 15 of 48 Total Comments Show All

Bogi at 05:30 PM JST - 27th January

Old person + car license = DANGER. A generalization that is too often true.
BBLeo at 06:52 PM JST - 27th January

Elderly people should have eyes testing before they get permit to drive. Many countries had adapted this and it is working. Doesn't Japan have such ACT? Further on serious disabled driver shouldn't be driving car at all. Mind you elderly people are not 'HOONS' and they don't intend to harm others. You all have to look both ways. What you call: 'Old people' are from generations before you, if wasn't for them you wouldn't be walking on your soil. Some respect please for elderly. Accident could happen to anyone. 'YOUNG PEOPLE+DRIVERS LICENSE+ALCOHOL+DRUGS+HOONS = DISASTER.
Midnightpromise at 06:59 PM JST - 27th January

No one will argue that elderly folks should not be allowed to drive, if competent. But just like having to reach a certain age BEFORE driving perhaps we should agree on an age at which we STOP driving?
BBLeo at 07:41 PM JST - 27th January

Calling an elderly person as "OLD" is discrimination against humanity. The as you call 'US Black President' were he should be called first 'African American President.' We are now in civilized age not back in Stone Age. Here is a mistake made by one disabled driver and the whole lots of comments are against aged person. Respect should be shown towards elderly instead being called with all sorts of expressions. Yes I agree perhaps age should be imposed for elderly drivers.
Ageha at 09:52 PM JST - 27th January

"This is a failure of his family, assuming he has one, who hasn't taken away his keys!"

"The blame should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the society that let him have the "privilege" of operating a motor vehicle in the first place."

Woah, discrimination much? Now, discrimination because he is old or because he is disabled? Maybe both. I can see why japan is such a country, when people who think like that out there. It was an accident, sadly it was an old and disabled person but could have been a 20 year old person too.
Bogi at 10:57 PM JST - 27th January

BBLeo

It is a proven fact that people's reflexes begin deteriorating at a certain age. My mother in-law recently stopped driving because of this - she is 62. Assuming that a 74 year-old man is a similar case is NOT discrimination, it's logical.
electric2004 at 10:57 PM JST - 27th January

It seems this old man had a way too powerful car. He was not able any more to handle it. Maybe he should have changed to a model with lower power engine or even a K-car. Then the damage would have been smaller. Yes, this old man made a choice. He enjoyed his powerful car. Up to this one sad moment he lost control.
Wottock_Hunt at 11:22 PM JST - 27th January

How many times in the last five years has this old duffer fobbed off the people who expressed concern for him?

"Don't worry about me, I'm a perfectly safe driver. I've been driving since before your father was even BORN, he can't tell me about driving..."

Now two people are dead and we're supposed to feel sorry for him? Ifhe'd been 25 and made the same mistake, they'd be baying for his blood.
GW at 12:04 AM JST - 28th January

Jail the idiot who "designed " the "solution" to put the accelerator to the left of the brake(stupid beyond belief).

The dolt "designer" shud have moved the break to the left, & left the accelerator to the right of the brake,............

Now we just have a tragedy, the issue of old folks driving is separate from this stupid design decision imo, ok my guess.

Sad all round & going to be more of these before long!
shouganaika at 10:15 AM JST - 28th January

over 65 drivers yearly test for licence renewal. over 75 drivers licence revoked. if some kind of legislation like this isn't introduced quickly this problem is going to become a lot worse in the next 2 decades
JapanHusker at 11:25 AM JST - 28th January

buddha4brains at 04:38 PM JST - 27th January See these gawkers a lot here when accidents/incidents happen. Everyone wants to watch the carnage - no one wants to help. Ah actually, there are gawkers all over the world. It isn't a Japanese thing.

Did I say it was a "Japanese thing?" Thought not - apologist.
martyman at 06:32 PM JST - 28th January

Police arrested Tsuda at the scene but have since upgraded the charge to vehicular manslaughter.

Is this the only thing he will be charged with?

After hitting the woman, Tsuda then drove his car forward and hit a van parked outside the restaurant,

From the story, He was also trying to escape from the scene but luckily hit a van on the way out of the resturant.
WilliB at 12:48 AM JST - 29th January

How many times have had these "mistook accelerator for brake" accidents now, and not only in Japan?

This never used to happen with manual cars. Simple: If you panic and push two pedal, one of them is going to stop or disconnect the drive.

Ergo: Senile folks should not be allowed to drive automatic cars, period. The design, while convenient, is a accident waiting to happen.
mellow0 at 01:14 AM JST - 29th January

The questions being raised about whether these people shouldn't drive aren't being asked because they're ageist or anti-disabled it's because it WASN'T 'a normal accident'. The guy plowed into a restaurant (accident) but then didn't have the faculties to deal with the situation properly. Instead of getting out or just sitting there waiting for assistance he then reversed into a cyclist (lack of observation) & then changed gear again to career into a van. That's some maneuvering! The answers lie in designing cars for people that will do far less damage & better checks on driving ability.
Midnightpromise at 06:58 PM JST - 30th January

I agree with mellow0, perhaps they can make cars for old folks that made out of rubber?