Higashi-Ikebukuro runaway car crash
Memorial of the crash, unveiled July 11, 2020 (Photo taken in 2021) | |
| Native name | 東池袋自動車暴走死傷事故 |
|---|---|
| Date | April 19, 2019 |
| Location | Higashiikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo, Japan |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 10 (Including Iizuka) |
| Arrests | 1 (Kozo Iizuka) |
| Charges | Dangerous Driving Causing Death or Injury |
| Sentence | 5 years without parole |
The Higashi-Ikebukuro runaway car crash was a traffic crash that occurred on April 19, 2019, in Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo, resulting in 2 deaths and 9 injuries.
The crash occurred when an 87-year-old passenger car driver mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake and entered an intersection hitting pedestrians and bicyclists. In the aftermath of the incident, there was widespread protest throughout Japan at what was seen as special treatment for the perpetrator due to his status as a retired and decorated senior bureaucrat.