World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Man arrested after suspected drunk-driving crash injured four in Kurume
Police in Kurume, Fukuoka, arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of drunk driving and causing a serious crash.
He is suspected of running a red light in a car and hitting a truck at an intersection early on October 20.
Police said the car had taken a turn where turning was prohibited and was being followed by a patrol car before the crash.
Four people were injured, including the truck driver and three people in the car.
One passenger, a 20-year-old man, was left unconscious and in critical condition.
Police suspect alcohol and dangerous driving; a test after the crash detected alcohol in the driver's breath.
The man said he had been drinking before driving but could not remember the crash or driving.
A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing a crash while driving under the influence of alcohol in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Police allege he ran a red light and collided with a truck in the early hours of October 20.
Four people were injured, including a 20-year-old passenger who was reported to be unconscious and in critical condition.
Police say the car had been pursued by a patrol car after making an illegal right turn.
The suspect said he had been drinking before driving but could not remember the crash or driving, according to reports.
- Who
- Police arrested 23-year-old Sota Hirano, a self-described part-time worker from Chikushino.
- What
- He is suspected of dangerous driving causing injury and driving under the influence after a car-truck collision injured four people.
- When
- The crash happened at about 4:55 a.m. on October 20. Hirano was arrested on October 22.
- Where
- At an intersection on a national road in Tenjinmachi, Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture.
- Why
- Police allege he drove after drinking and entered the intersection against a red light. A motive was not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Police allege Hirano drove through a red light at an intersection in Kurume and collided with a truck.
Reports said five people were taken to hospital after the crash; one man was unconscious and in critical condition.
Kurume police arrested Hirano on suspicion of dangerous driving causing injury and driving under the influence.
- Suspect
- Sota Hirano, 23
- Crash location
- Tenjinmachi, Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Crash time
- About 4:55 a.m. on October 20
- Injured
- Four people; a 20-year-old passenger was reported unconscious and in critical condition
- Alcohol reading
- 0.38 milligrams of alcohol per litre of breath, according to Mainichi Shimbun
3 sources
What people are saying
I had been drinking until before I drove, but I have no memory of the accident or driving at the time.
I had been drinking before driving, but I have no memory of the accident.