Overview
- Mie Prefectural Police raided the Hiroshima-based transport company HIROKI, searching two locations tied to driver Mizutani Mitsuyo, 54.
- Mizutani was arrested on suspicion of negligent driving causing death and was referred to prosecutors on March 21.
- Police say the 10-ton truck appears to have struck the rear of a congested queue at speed in a tunnel zone restricted to 50 km/h for construction.
- The collision involved two passenger cars and a large trailer, the cars caught fire, and six bodies—including three children—were recovered from the front vehicles.
- Authorities are examining speed and brake evidence and reviewing the driver’s health checks and work conditions, while HIROKI says she had no notable prior accidents since joining in 2021.