Mercedes Driver, 26, Goes Wrong Way and Hits 3 Cars — Blames Others Despite Injuries

Right after the accident, the scene vividly reflected the magnitude of the impact.

A small car with most of its rear window shattered and a broken tire, a street tree knocked over near its base, and shards of glass scattered all around.

This was the aftermath of a multi-vehicle accident that occurred just after 10:30 a.m. on June 26 at an intersection in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, where three women were injured. The suspect, Daiki Watanabe (26), who claims to be a company executive and resides in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, was arrested on the spot by the Totsuka Police Department on suspicion of violating the Act on Punishment of Acts Inflicting Death or Injury by Driving a Motor Vehicle (negligent driving resulting in injury). Watanabe is believed to have caused the accident while driving a white Mercedes-Benz.

“Security camera footage captured the entire shocking sequence of events that left multiple people injured. Watanabe’s Mercedes reportedly drove the wrong way for about 200 meters and collided head-on with a police car that happened to be approaching from the opposite direction. The vehicle then struck three other vehicles near the intersection, including a small car and a truck, before crashing into a pole and a signpost, finally coming to a stop.

Three women—one a nursery school teacher walking on the sidewalk, and two elderly women including one unemployed—were injured, but fortunately none suffered life-threatening injuries. None of the children the teacher was escorting were hurt either. A nearby resident who witnessed the accident called emergency services, and responding officers arrested Watanabe at the scene,” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs department.

Alcohol level exceeding the legal limit

Suspect Watanabe was found to have an alcohol level in his breath that exceeded the legal limit. However, during police questioning, he reportedly denied the charges, stating:

“I did nothing wrong.”

Former Kanagawa police detective and crime journalist Taihei Ogawa commented:

“The suspect’s statement was likely made during the initial investigation, possibly while he was still under the influence. In such a state, it’s difficult to fully grasp the seriousness of one’s situation. Driving the wrong way on a public road is unthinkable under normal circumstances.

Considering how close the accident site is to the suspect’s residence, it’s possible he was overly confident, thinking, ‘A little drinking won’t matter on familiar roads.’ He needs to deeply reflect on the gravity of having caused a multi-vehicle accident that nearly became a major tragedy.”

The police are continuing their investigation, taking the possibility of drunk driving into serious consideration.