Key Facts
• On August 21, a four-vehicle accident occurred on the Sanyo Expressway in Iwakuni City.
• A 65-year-old truck driver from Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture, was arrested for negligent driving resulting in death.
• The accident was reported at 4:15 PM near the Kuga Interchange, with witnesses noting a burning vehicle.
• Two individuals in a compact car were killed and remained trapped inside as of 9:50 PM.
• The truck was seen engulfed in flames, with the compact car crushed in front of it.
• The driver admitted to causing the accident and acknowledged the fatalities.
• The Sanyo Expressway’s northbound section between Kumage and Kuga IC was closed from 4:27 PM on August 21 to 1:12 AM on August 22.
• Police are working to confirm the identities of the victims and investigate the cause of the accident.
Summary
A tragic multi-vehicle accident on the Sanyo Expressway in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, claimed two lives on August 21. A 65-year-old truck driver from Kumamoto Prefecture was arrested for negligent driving resulting in death. The accident, involving four vehicles, was reported at 4:15 PM near the Kuga Interchange. Witnesses described a burning truck and a crushed compact car, where two victims remained trapped. The driver admitted responsibility for the accident. The expressway’s northbound section was closed for nearly nine hours. Authorities are confirming the victims’ identities and investigating the cause.
