Drunk Driver Arrested After Causing Multi Car Accident With 8 Injuries and Odd Behavior

The man twisted his upper body, grimaced, and dragged his legs as he exited the police station. After muttering something to himself, he suddenly seemed to break into a smile. This strange behavior came immediately after the arrest of a suspect involved in a multi-car accident with 9 vehicles after driving under the influence.

The photographer from our magazine captured the moment of the transfer of 31-year-old self-proclaimed office worker, Masahito Nonaka, who lives in Naniwa Ward, Osaka, on May 7. Nonaka was arrested on May 5 by the Yokosuka Police Station in Kanagawa Prefecture on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act (driving under the influence).

“The accident occurred around 11 a.m. on the 5th. The location was near Yokosuka Chuo Station, in a busy shopping district. It was during the Golden Week holiday, and the streets were filled with people enjoying shopping and sightseeing. In the midst of the crowded streets, Nonaka, who was intoxicated, drove his white sedan at high speed.

Nonaka’s car collided with buses and other vehicles one after another, and the area was filled with screams from pedestrians. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but eight people, including bus passengers, were injured. Nonaka was found to have three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system,” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s social department.

The car is a moving weapon

Surveillance camera footage and other evidence show the reckless and extreme driving behavior of the suspect, Masahito Nonaka. After rear-ending a bus, he reversed and collided with a car behind him. He then swerved into the opposite lane and crashed into the front of a parked car, before colliding with several other vehicles, including another bus. The stretch where the accident occurred was nearly 300 meters long.

“It seems Nonaka had been drinking for several hours right before he got behind the wheel. He is known to be fond of drinking and often drinks for long periods. In response to police questioning, he admitted, ‘There’s no doubt I was driving under the influence.’ However, given his bizarre behavior during the transfer (as mentioned at the start), it’s questionable whether he truly feels remorse.

Nonaka’s car had a man in his 20s as a passenger, who fled the scene immediately after the multi-vehicle accident. He turned himself in to the police later that evening. He reportedly told the police, ‘The airbag deployed from the impact of the crash, and I cut my mouth, causing me to panic.’ The police suspect this man knew about Nonaka’s drunk driving, and they are investigating him for violating the Road Traffic Act (being a passenger in a drunk-driven vehicle).”

Former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist, Tahei Ogawa, commented:

“Even though the dangers of drunk driving are being widely emphasized, it’s shocking to see people still committing similar offenses. Drunk driving usually results in a fine of up to 1 million yen, but it should be made stricter. Even if it’s a first offense, if you cause an accident while drunk, you should face a prison sentence immediately.

There needs to be more awareness that drunk driving is highly likely to result in fatal accidents. A car is often referred to as a ‘moving weapon.’ When a person drinks and loses their ability to make sound judgments, driving at high speeds or in the wrong lane can put many people’s lives at risk.”

The police are planning to shift the investigation towards the more serious charge of dangerous driving resulting in injury and are focusing on further investigating Nonaka.