TOKYO - The heavy snowfall in the Kanto region led to a spike in traffic incidents, including vehicles being stranded and slipping on icy roads, with at least 1,300 traffic accidents reported.
A Collision Between Trucks Results in a Severely Damaged Compact Car
Tokyo's central area, which saw up to 8 cm of snow accumulation, experienced at least 1,300 traffic incidents due to the severe weather conditions.
A particular accident was captured in detail by a camera. At around 3 AM, our team happened upon the scene just after the incident occurred, involving three vehicles: a compact car with significant front-end damage and a truck. Further down, a light truck had slipped.
As daylight broke, more details about the incident emerged.
Investigating the Cause of the Accident Through Security Camera Footage
The truck collided with a street tree, bending the guardrail. Despite the light truck having chains installed, it's unclear why the accident occurred. Security footage revealed the sequence of events: the light truck, equipped with chains, slipped and spun, followed by a large truck that also slipped and hit a street tree. We spoke with the driver of the light truck in his twenties.
The accident took place along the Ome Road, connecting Tokyo's Shinjuku with Yamanashi Prefecture, near an intersection in Suginami Ward around 2:30 AM.
Driving towards Shinjuku, the light truck was delivering goods when a compact car from the opposite lane slipped and collided with it. The following truck could not avoid the compact car and also collided, subsequently sliding into a street tree.
The drivers of the compact car and the truck sustained minor injuries, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
JAF Responds to Vehicles Stuck on Slopes
JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) in Tama received numerous requests for assistance.
In one case, a vehicle stuck on a slope in the Tama area needed help. The vehicle had become immobile during an attempt to navigate the icy conditions.
A JAF technician provided assistance by fitting the vehicle with "Auto Socks," a fabric-based traction aid, advising careful and gradual driving.
Another call involved a compact car that had slid halfway off the road while trying to exit a parking lot. The driver had to miss a day of work due to the incident.
Such weather conditions, where snow is followed by rain, require extra caution. The rain can turn snow into slush, which may freeze overnight, necessitating the use of chains even with snow tires, as explained by a JAF technician.
Source: ANN
