Patrol Car Swept Away: Police Officers' Final Call During Record Rain in Yamagata

Jul 29, 2024 | News On Japan

YAMAGATA, Jul 29, 2024 (News On Japan) - The death of a second police officer has been confirmed at the site where a patrol car was swept away during record rainfall in northern Japan last week.

At the site in Shinjo, Yamagata Prefecture, where the two officers were swept away with their patrol car, one officer was found on Friday. Police announced on Sunday that the deceased was 26-year-old Sergeant Ryota Tamaya.

Based on the clothing, the second body is believed to be a missing sergeant in his 20s.

On the night of July 25th, when record rainfall occurred, Sergeant Tamaya and the sergeant were in a patrol car responding to a rescue request, heading towards Hongaikai in Shinjo City.

Although flooding was expected near the scene, the patrol car the two were in did not have life jackets. The police station dispatched a vehicle with life jackets aiming to rendezvous with the two. However, the following vehicle was caught in a landslide and could not meet them, so the life jackets did not reach the two officers.

Later, a report came in from Sergeant Tamaya. Of the 45-second call, the only audible words were, "The patrol car is being swept away." About 30 minutes later, the sergeant reported, "I got out of the patrol car, but I am being swept away," and then they lost contact.

Regarding Sergeant Tamaya, the Yamagata Prefectural Police commented, "He fulfilled his duty and is a model for all police officers."

Source: TBS

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