Driver arrested after colliding with girl on scooter, then fleeing in Kanagawa

Friday 28th August, 09:03 AM JST

KANAGAWA —

A 39-year-old Mainichi Shimbun employee was arrested for negligent driving resulting in injury and for fleeing the scene of an accident on Thursday, after he hit a 17-year-old girl on her scooter and then drove away without stopping.

Police said Yoshio Kusaka was delivering advertisements for the Mainichi newspaper early Thursday afternoon when his vehicle hit the scooter at an intersection in Sagamihara City. Kusaka didn’t stop his car and drove away from the scene, but returned about 15 minutes later, where he was arrested. He told police that he fled the scene in shock.

The girl was taken to hospital and is receiving treatment for the injuries to her chest.

• mindovermatter at 04:03 PM JST - 28th August

  auntplum

  Being in an accident where a pedestrian is killed typically results in a prison scentence... whether they are inebriated, infirm, elderly, or a teenager talking on a mobile phone whilst listening to an I-pod and playing on a PSP as they wander into the road on their merry way

  I don't know what cave or what country you've been living in, but what you stated is absolutely ridiculous. I'll be the first one to say that Japan has some pretty stupid laws, not to mention the people have very little, if any common-sense and act like a bunch of 7 year olds...

  Come on dude.... If somebody walks out into the middle of a busy road, expressway, highway, etc and gets nailed by a motor vehicle, "provided the driver did everything he could to avoid hitting the pedestrian."

  Then he has nothing to worry about...

  Now of course if he was drinking, taking drugs, speeding or driving with reckless and wanton disregard...

  ALL BETS ARE OFF!

  Come on dude, use some common sense.

  BTW, I choose not to drive, And this is my country, The country MY Forefathers fought and died for so you Japanese can enjoy your freedom and democracy...

  Your Welcome!

  Have a nice Day!

mindovermatter at 01:24 PM JST - 28th August

Even if a pedestrian is drunk and running onto a busy road, the driver that hits them would still be considered guilty in Japanese law.

Not True, unless that driver is doing something illegal, such as drinking and driving or speeding, etc...

I can tell you first hand, having hit someone on a bike, they weren't hurt, but I wasn't even given a ticket. I know of two other instances, one in which an old lady was killed after she stepped into oncoming traffic.

But I do think they need to re-educate the driving populous in Japan. They seem to think that motor vehicles always have the right of way!

Especially bus drivers, these clowns think they own the road, after a couple of near misses, I always make it a point to follow the drivers to their next stop and "physically" Instruct and Educate them, that they do not own the road and they must give ample room when they pass runners, sharing the road with them.

They are all so big and bad behind the wheels of their 20 ton Buses until you meet them face-to-face...

LOL...

(Been there, done that, will do it again in a heartbeat!)