Porsche Speeds at 268 km/h on Tokyo Expressway… Elderly Couple Killed in Crash; Prosecutors Stun with Defendant’s Motive—55-Year-Old Driver

“I never lost control of the car, nor did I drive with the intent to cause harm,”

stated the man accused of driving a Porsche at speeds of up to 268 km/h, colliding with another vehicle, and killing an elderly couple. He denied part of the charges against him.

On November 25, the Yokohama District Court held the first hearing for Yoshiyuki Hikota (55) of Edogawa, Tokyo, who faces charges under the Act on Punishment of Acts Inflicting Death or Injury by Driving (dangerous driving causing death). In August 2020, Hikota allegedly drove his high-end Porsche on the Kanagawa section of the Tokyo Bayshore Expressway, where the speed limit is 80 km/h, at 200–268 km/h. According to prosecutors, when he turned the steering wheel, the car skidded and became uncontrollable, resulting in a collision that killed a 70-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman.

“The accident occurred just after 8 a.m. on a weekend morning, on a relatively straight, three-lane road. Driving more than three times the speed limit is abnormal.

Hikota is believed to have tried to overtake the couple’s car at high speed, leading to the collision. The impact was severe—the rear right of the car that was hit was badly damaged, and the woman was thrown from the vehicle. Immediately after the crash, this section of the expressway was closed for eight hours,” reported a journalist from a national newspaper’s social affairs desk.

The driver’s conduct was extremely selfish and dangerous

Let’s return to the opening of the trial.

“At the hearing, the prosecution argued that ‘driving at such an extreme speed itself was intended to obstruct other drivers,’ asserting that the charge of dangerous driving causing death should be upheld. Meanwhile, Hikota apologized, saying, ‘I deeply regret causing such a terrible accident due to my excessive speeding,’ but partially denied the charges, claiming he had not driven in an uncontrollable manner. His defense argues that the lesser charge of negligent driving causing death is more appropriate than the heavier charge of dangerous driving causing death,” explained a national newspaper judicial reporter.

At the time of the accident, Hikota’s 19-year-old son was riding in the passenger seat. The prosecution pointed to a shocking motive for the reckless driving:

“He wanted to show his son the car’s performance and impress him.”

Mika Yanagihara, a non-fiction writer specializing in traffic accidents, provides context:

“Even if, as the defendant claims, there was no intent to obstruct traffic, once he drove at such a high speed and collided with the vehicle ahead, it clearly constitutes loss of control. While a Porsche may remain relatively stable even at over 200 km/h, driving at such extreme speeds while ignoring the flow of traffic around you is an extremely selfish and dangerous act. The charge of ‘dangerous driving causing death’ is appropriate. Allowing a fatal accident at 268 km/h to be treated as mere negligence would set a dangerous precedent.”

Hikota’s verdict is scheduled to be handed down sometime in January 2026.