MIYAGI - Five pedestrians were injured, two seriously, when a car struck a stationary bus before plowing into a crowded sidewalk near Naruko Gorge, a popular autumn foliage destination in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on November 1, with police arresting the 73-year-old driver at the scene on suspicion of negligent driving causing injury.
The accident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on National Route 47 in the Naruko Onsen district of Osaki, where large numbers of tourists had gathered to enjoy the autumn colors, which were reaching their peak.
According to police, the passenger car collided with a stopped local bus before veering onto the sidewalk and striking five pedestrians, men and women ranging in age from their teens to their 70s.
All five were taken to hospitals. Two women, one in her 50s and the other in her 60s, suffered serious injuries, including broken bones in their legs, while the remaining three sustained minor injuries.
None of the 36 passengers aboard the bus was injured.
A witness described hearing a violent crash as the vehicle struck the bus and pedestrians. "I heard a loud bang and crashing sound. It looked like someone was lying on the ground covered in blood," the witness said.
Police arrested Nobukatsu Konno, 73, an unemployed resident of Fukushima City, on suspicion of causing injury through negligent driving.
Konno reportedly admitted to the allegations during questioning, telling investigators, "That's correct." He also told police that he had mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
Investigators are examining the circumstances leading up to the collision, including how the vehicle struck the stationary bus before entering the pedestrian area.
The accident occurred near Naruko Gorge, one of the Tohoku region's best-known destinations for autumn foliage. The gorge attracts large numbers of sightseers each year, particularly from late October through early November, when the surrounding mountainsides turn vivid shades of red, orange and yellow.
The area was experiencing peak autumn foliage conditions at the time of the accident, and numerous visitors were walking along sidewalks near the sightseeing destination.
National Route 47 is a major road running through the Naruko Onsen area, connecting communities in northern Miyagi with neighboring Yamagata Prefecture. During the autumn sightseeing season, the road and surrounding tourist facilities experience increased traffic as visitors travel to Naruko Gorge and nearby hot spring resorts.
Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident and the driver's actions immediately before the collision.
Source: FNN
