Settled
Nagoya crash trial: driver, 72, tells court his driving was reckless
In short
A 72-year-old man on trial over a crash near Nagoya Station in which three pedestrians were killed or injured told a Nagoya District Court hearing on Oct 5 that his driving “may have been quite reckless” and that he felt he had been going too fast. Prosecutors say he drove at 70 km/h or more and ran a red light. The defence has raised suspected dementia, and a psychiatric examiner found mild cognitive impairment but, according to Nippon TV News, full criminal responsibility.
Why it matters
The case turns on whether the defendant, who is 72, can be held criminally responsible, an issue that Japanese courts and prosecutors weigh in traffic cases involving older drivers. Its outcome matters mainly to the victims' families and to how similar cases are argued, since the documents give no indication of wider policy consequences.
Key facts
- Narumi Hiroshi, 72, of Kita-ku, Nagoya, is on trial at the Nagoya District Court over an accident near Nagoya Station in which a light passenger car struck three pedestrians, killing and injuring them. [ 1 , 3 ]
- According to the indictment, he drove at 70 km/h or more, ignored a red light and entered the intersection before hitting the three pedestrians. [ 3 ]
- At the Oct 5 hearing he said his driving “may have been quite reckless” and that he felt he had been driving too fast. [ 1 , 3 ]
- He said he thought he had taken the wrong road, and should have stopped to check instead of continuing to drive. [ 1 ]
- The defence argued he may have dementia and requested a psychiatric evaluation, which the court decided to carry out. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reported the examiner said there was suspected mild cognitive impairment but that it did not affect the accident; Nippon TV News reported the examiner said mild cognitive impairment was present but full criminal responsibility is recognised. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The next hearing is scheduled for Oct 26. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A 72-year-old man is on trial over an accident near Nagoya Station in which a car struck three pedestrians, killing and injuring them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- During questioning in court on Oct 5, the defendant said his driving may have been quite reckless. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The defence requested a psychiatric evaluation on the grounds of suspected dementia, and an evaluation was carried out. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the defendant had a clear memory of the accident. Sankei Shimbun reported he gave testimony to the effect that his memory was vague and at times could not explain details, while Nippon TV News reported he acknowledged having a memory and said he felt he had been going too fast.
- The precise wording and scope of the psychiatric examiner's assessment. The two outlets describe the finding differently: Sankei Shimbun says the doctor saw suspected mild cognitive impairment that did not affect the accident, while Nippon TV News says the examiner recognised full criminal responsibility.
- His statements about the victims and their families. Sankei Shimbun alone reported that he expressed intent to apologise to the bereaved families but could not answer the victims' names.
What local media are saying
Business mediaAll three documents come from outlets classified as business, and all treated the hearing as straight court news. They led on the defendant's own remarks about his driving and his memory, with Nippon TV News adding the indictment's speed and red-light allegations, the psychiatric finding and the next hearing date.
[
1
,
2
,
3
]
Timeline, local time
- Sankei Shimbun reports the Nagoya District Court hearing, where the defendant said his driving may have been quite reckless and described his memory as vague. [ 1 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun's report highlights the defendant's vague memory and his remark that his driving may have been reckless. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV News reports the indictment's account of driving at 70 km/h or more and ignoring a red light, the examiner's finding of mild cognitive impairment with full criminal responsibility, and an Oct 26 next hearing. [ 3 ]