Society

Truck driver admits drinking alcohol before accident that killed 2 children

Jun 30 (Japan Today) - A man has admitted consuming alcohol before the truck he was driving was involved in an accident that left two elementary school children dead and three others injured near Tokyo, investigative sources said Tuesday.

Police searched the house and office of Hiroshi Umezawa, 60, who is suspected of negligent driving resulting in death and injury. Alcohol in excess of the legal limit was detected when he took a breathalyzer test following the accident on Monday.

Police said it appears he did not apply his brakes at the scene of the accident in Yachimata, Chiba Prefecture, and they are thinking of charging him with dangerous driving causing death or injury.

According to the transport company in Yachimata that he works for, Umezawa was returning to the company at the time of the accident, after delivering cargo to Tokyo.

Umezawa's truck hit a line of pupils as they were walking home from Choyo Elementary School at around 3:30 p.m. Monday, killing two boys and seriously injuring three other children, with one of them left unconscious, according to police.

Police quoted Umezawa as saying he crashed into the group of children after hitting a utility pole when he suddenly swerved to the left.

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