Key Facts
• On May 16, 2023, a truck collided with a bus on Tohoku Expressway in Kurihara City.
• The bus was parked on the shoulder; three people died, including the bus driver and two passengers.
• The truck driver sustained serious injuries.
• Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism commissioned an investigation.
• Report published on July 4, 2025, identified truck driver’s inattention and fatigue from long hours as causes.
• The bus failed to use flares or other measures to alert following vehicles.
• Recommendations include stricter labor management and driver supervision to prevent recurrence.
Summary
A fatal accident occurred on May 16, 2023, on the Tohoku Expressway in Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture, when a truck collided with a parked bus. The crash resulted in three deaths and one serious injury. An investigation by a government-commissioned committee revealed that the truck driver’s inattention and fatigue from long working hours were primary causes. Additionally, the bus failed to implement adequate safety measures, such as using flares to warn other vehicles. The report, released on July 4, 2025, emphasized the need for improved labor management and driver oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.
