Key Facts
• On August 25, 2006, a drunk driver caused a fatal accident in Fukuoka.
• A 22-year-old city employee rear-ended a car carrying a family of five.
• The family’s car plunged off the Uminonakamichi Bridge into the sea.
• Three children, aged 4, 3, and 1, tragically lost their lives.
• The driver was sentenced to 20 years in prison for dangerous driving resulting in death.
• The mother, Kaori Ogami, recounted the events during a 2024 lecture.
• She described rescuing her two youngest children from the submerged car.
• Despite her efforts, her eldest son, Hiroaki, could not be saved.
• The car fell from a height equivalent to a five-story building.
• The mother has spent 19 years sharing her story to honor her children.
Summary
In 2006, a drunk driving accident on the Uminonakamichi Bridge in Fukuoka claimed the lives of three young siblings, aged 4, 3, and 1. The family’s car was rear-ended by a 22-year-old city employee, causing it to plunge into the sea. The mother, Kaori Ogami, managed to rescue her two youngest children but tragically could not save her eldest son. The driver was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Nineteen years later, Kaori shared her harrowing experience during a lecture, recounting her desperate attempts to save her children and the devastating loss. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of drunk driving and the enduring pain it causes.
