An 88-year-old man drove for about three kilometers in the opposite direction on the Tomei Expressway in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, police said Saturday.
The heavily-traveled express links Tokyo and Nagoya, but nobody was hurt during the incident which occurred at around 2:50 p.m. Friday, Sankei Shimbun reported.
Police said that the small car being driven by the man crashed after it crossed over the median barrier, but the driver was not hurt.
According to investigations, the man was initially driving in the correct direction and heading off the Hamamatsu Interchange when suddenly he made a U-turn in front of the toll collecting station. He then proceeded to drive his vehicle in the opposite direction of the same inbound road he had just come from.
The man managed to drive along the expressway, as oncoming vehicles swerved to avoid hitting him, for three kilometers until he crashed.
Police said the man, who lives in Nagoya, told them he was going to the hospital and said he had no idea that he was driving in the wrong direction.
© Japan Today
20 Comments
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smithinjapan
Take away their licenses. Sorry, but the fact that he did a U-turn but had 'no idea' he was driving the wrong way is a pretty clear indication he was unfit to drive, and we hear about this, and hitting the gas instead of hte break and/or plowing down a group of people, far too often these days.
Kobe White Bar Owner
He should have his license revoked and or force to sit a new test. Sure he will get away with a deep bow as we gotta be kind to old people even when they risk the lives of others knowingly or otherwise.
Wc626
Whoa, 3km! That's outrageous. Japan's prefectural unten menkyo centers need to clean house.
Are you serious?? At this point, a new tests should be out of the question.
some14some
it is 'certain' that he was going to a right place.
Nelson Wong
Yes! I was the victim of a hit and run last night!!! The woman that hit me was at least late 60s early 70s. I'm fine, but she looked me dead in the eyes and took off!
SenseNotSoCommon
He wasn't going the wrong way. Everyone else was.
wtfjapan
and Japan wants the worlds safest rds, sorry not going to happen until you stop most of the older folk from driving. quicker we get self driving cars for the elderly the better.
nath
The roads are quiet safe the people using them are the problem.
Wc626
That's the spirit!
seadog538
At least he wasn't trying to attack someone in a fit of road rage.
Kurobune
Have had two accidents exactly like this just off the exit ramp on I-75 about a mile or so from my home. Both fatal.
BertieWooster
smithinjapan,
"Their" licenses, Smithers?
There was only one man driving in the article.
Or do you mean that no 88 year olds should be allowed to drive?
You would punish all for the sake of one?
oyatoi
It'll all be on record who authorized the most recent renewal. Right now I bet you there's one or more license testing center officials sweating on the results of police enquires (rehearsing their answers).
danalawton1@yahoo.com
You'd think on the "Tomei", the signs would be clear.
sighclops
I mean REALLY.
ebisen
That's gotta be a new record, 3 km against the traffic on one of the most crowded highways in the world without crashing... Seriously...
Monozuki
Aha! That makes sense in a way. He may not have time to think about anything except going to the hospital.
changamangaliay
During that 3 km of drive he must be getting mad at those who were coming from opposite side on the lane he was driving.
WilliB
Well he should lose his license for sure.
battambangbound
I guess he couldn't see the oncoming traffic. After all, "tomei" means "invisable" in Japanese.