Forty-seven people were injured in a bus collision on the Chuo Expressway in western Tokyo on Saturday. The crash occurred when one tour bus rear-ended another while traveling together, police said.
The incident took place at around 10:15 a.m. near the Kobotoke Tunnel in Hachioji. Both buses had departed from JR Tokyo Station earlier that morning, heading toward Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi Prefecture.
According to police, the two buses, operated by the same company, were affected by heavy traffic. The buses kept starting and stopping as they traveled. The collision occurred when the driver of the rear bus failed to notice that the front bus had braked.
Thankfully, none of the 47 people injured suffered life-threatening injuries. The victims were mostly foreign nationals, but their exact identities have not been released. Emergency services quickly responded to the scene.
As a result of the crash, the outbound lanes of the expressway between the Hachioji junction and Sagamiko interchange were temporarily closed. Central Nippon Expressway Co., the operator of the expressway, confirmed the lane closure. The incident caused significant traffic delays in the area.
The police are still investigating the cause of the crash. They are reviewing traffic conditions and gathering witness statements to understand what led to the accident. It is unclear if the driver of the rear bus will face charges at this point.
The bus collision has highlighted the importance of maintaining proper attention while driving in heavy traffic, especially on busy expressways. Authorities continue to urge all drivers to stay alert and cautious in such conditions.
