2-year-old boy dies after being hit by train in Fukushima

Thursday 01st October, 08:40 AM JST

FUKUSHIMA —

A 2-year-old boy died after being hit by a train on the JR Banetsuto line in the town of Ono just before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, police said.

The boy lived with his parents in a house about 10 meters from the train line where there is no fence or barrier separating the tracks from the residential area. The driver of the local train bound for Koriyama noticed the boy on the tracks and applied the brakes, but the train failed to stop in time.

Police said the parents were searching for the boy after he went missing.

News reports

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Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

IchyaWarFare at 09:50 AM JST - 1st October

damn, so sad. RIP little one.
USNinJapan2 at 10:56 AM JST - 1st October

The poor train driver...
30061015 at 11:01 AM JST - 1st October

How incredibly sad. How can Japan make the most innovative smallest hi-tech consumer gadgets, but neglect to build a simple fence around a rail line in a high density residential area??? Is the JR line so blind and the govt so stupid? Wake up Japan!!!
bdiego at 11:06 AM JST - 1st October

This country? There are trains like that in almost every country. When a train line is in a residential area, they have a gate and bells instead of a fence. A fence is actually impractical because you would have to dig a tunnel under it for traffic.

I don't think most commenters here understand what's being described here.
mindovermatter at 11:16 AM JST - 1st October

Every week, if not every-other day you read about some 1,2,3 or 5 year old being backed over with a car, caught in an elevator, or locked inside a car while mom - dad plays Pachinko.... And I'm not even going to mention how many times you read about "Kenji" the live-in boyfriend who likes to punch 2 year olds in the head or burn them with cigarettes!

If you have a toddler you better damn-well child-proof your home, or get one of those child restraint leashes, Hold their hand when they cross the street, never ever, just jump into your car and back out of the driveway without knowing where "They" are!

Common-Sense!
Disillusioned at 11:29 AM JST - 1st October
How can Japan make the most innovative smallest hi-tech consumer gadgets, but neglect to build a simple fence around a rail line in a high density residential area???

Welcome to Japan. The land of contrasts. Here is another good contrast: Japan has the longest life expectancy yet also one of the highest suicide rates.
- Sad story albeit a preventable one.
tokyokawasaki at 11:39 AM JST - 1st October

Why is it that most people in this country have an almost inability to think for themselves? If that was my house right next to the train tracks, I'm sure I would have erected some form of my own barrier/fence to keep my children safe.
dano2002 at 12:03 PM JST - 1st October

I would have moved the day my baby was born (if financially possible).
societymike at 12:21 PM JST - 1st October

RIP boy, how sad.

but some of the comments here are plain dumb. I highly doubt the train system in your country is ANY better, most likely more primitive.
bamboohat at 12:57 PM JST - 1st October

Two years old is not old enough to be aware of trains and stuff. As cold as it sounds, the fault lies with the parents for not keeping track of the kid. Although that can be almost impossible when you live so close to the tracks. Tough situation.
TheDave at 01:23 PM JST - 1st October

Sadly this wont be the last time we read something like this happening.

No. It will not be the last time, but considering the numbers I am surprised at events like this one not happening more often.
Yelnats at 03:43 PM JST - 1st October

I have not seen a train here with out a fence next to the tracks. The only place without fences are street crossings, and if the bells start dinging and the bamboo polls come down, even a two year old would run. Little boys love trains.
TSRnow at 04:55 PM JST - 1st October

Yelnats, you haven't been to the countryside then. There are still a lot of places without those bamboo polls and fences.

I haven't seen any pictures of this accident but I'm sure it's an accident and the parents, the traffic system and Japan itself should not be blamed. Of course many could be prevented, but sadly, accidents happen. RIP.
bgaudry at 05:40 PM JST - 1st October

Some people need to understand that all these terrible events they read about here are because it's a site call "Japan Today." Try Uk Todar or USA today and there's just as sad/pointless accidents all over. Stop the J-bashing please guys.
ca1ic0cat at 09:07 PM JST - 1st October

You have to keep track of toddlers constantly. Any break in caution can end in disaster. This is really tragic but 10 meters is nothing to a 2 y/o.

And this is not unique to Japan at all. There are just more trains here and everything is packed together.