A trailer struck a vehicle that had broken down and was being repaired on the shoulder of the Shin-Tomei Expressway in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, killing one person and seriously injuring another, according to Yahoo!ニュース.
The collision involved three vehicles, including a large truck, and happened on the expressway's eastbound lanes, reports said. The driver's seat area of the disabled vehicle was described as completely crushed, according to accounts cited in the coverage.
The eastbound stretch between Shin-Fuji Interchange and Suruga Bay Numazu Smart Interchange was closed for roughly seven and a half hours after the crash, Yahoo!ニュース reported.
The reports did not specify the day of the collision or identify the people involved. Coverage of the incident was carried by several Japanese outlets, including Shizuoka Broadcasting System, Sankei News, TBS NEWS DIG and Shizuoka Shimbun Digital.
The crash highlights the hazard of roadside breakdowns on expressways, where stopped vehicles and people working around them sit close to fast-moving traffic. Japanese road operators routinely advise drivers who break down to move clear of the carriageway and stay behind a barrier while waiting for help.
Details of the investigation, including how the trailer came to leave the travel lane, have not been released. Further updates from Shizuoka prefectural police are expected to clarify the circumstances and confirm the identities of those involved.
