74-year-old woman arrested in fatal hit-and-run says she thought she hit a cardboard box

Apr 25, 2018 | News On Japan

Apr 25, 2018 (Japan Today) - A 74-year-old woman who was arrested over a fatal hit-and-run incident has told police that she thought her vehicle had hit a cardboard box.

Umeno Aoki, a resident of Kasukabe City in Saitama Prefecture, struck Sueko Suzuki, 86, after Suzuki was initially hit by another car while crossing a prefectural road at around 9:20 p.m. on April 17, Fuji TV reported.

Suzuki was crossing a two-lane road when she was struck by a car driven by Masaki Mizuochi, 43. She was flung into the path of Aokiâ€™s car going in the opposite direction. Mizuochi stopped but Aoki kept going.

Suzuki was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Mizuochi was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving resulting in death. After reviewing security camera footage of the incident, police managed to identify Aoki as the driver of the second car.

Police said Aokiâ€™s car showed traces of having been in an accident. She has admitted to hitting something but told police she thought it was a cardboard box.

It was raining at the time of the accident and there is no crossing at the spot where Suzuki was hit by the cars.

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