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13-Year-Old Girl Among Four Injured in Festival Float Crash

KOBE - Four people, including a 13-year-old junior high school girl, were injured when a large festival float collided with a roadside tree during an autumn festival in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, on October 12th.

The accident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. in Kobe's Tarumi Ward, where emergency services received a report that a festival float had struck people, leaving several injured.

According to police and firefighters, a large traditional festival float known as a futon daiko was attempting to turn left at an intersection when it collided with a roadside tree.

Three male participants in their teens and 20s who were pulling the float, along with a 13-year-old junior high school girl watching the procession, were injured after becoming trapped or caught in the collision.

All four were taken to hospital and were conscious when transported, authorities said.

The accident occurred during an autumn festival that had begun three days earlier in Tarumi Ward. As part of the celebrations, large futon daiko floats, traditionally carried or pulled through local streets, were making their way through the neighborhood.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the collision and what caused the float to strike the tree.

Source: FNN

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