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2 children killed, 3 injured after being hit by truck driven by drunk man

Jun 29 (Japan Today) - Two elementary school boys were killed and three other pupils were seriously injured Monday when a truck driven by a drunk man crashed into them on a street in Chiba Prefecture, police said.

The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. in Yachimata as the children were on their way home from school. Alcohol in excess of the legal limit was detected when Hiroshi Umezawa took a breathalyzer test, the police said.

Umezawa, 60, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in injury. He has admitted to the allegation, the police said.

They quoted Umezawa as saying he crashed into the group of four boys and a girl after hitting a utility pole when he suddenly swerved to the left.

Of the five, four were aged between 6 and 10, while information about the other child was not immediately available, according to the fire department.

Of the three injured, one was unconscious and the two others were severely injured.

The children were pupils of nearby Choyo Elementary School, according to the school, which checked their belongings at the scene.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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