Four Workers Die After Express Train Hits Them North of Tokyo
The Story
Four workers died Thursday after an express train hit them at Shin-Kanuma Station in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo. The men, in their 50s and 60s, were on the tracks removing weeds when the accident occurred around 10:45 a.m. on the Tobu Nikko Line. The train, a Spacia X limited-express bound for Asakusa in Tokyo, was approaching the platform and was due to stop at Shin-Kanuma Station. None of the approximately 50 passengers or the train crew were injured. A total of seven workers were engaged in weeding work at the site; the other three were uninjured. Tobu Railway Co., the operator, stated that a designated lookout is required to visually check for approaching trains and alert workers to move away from the tracks. The lookout then signals the train driver with a flag, and the driver acknowledges by sounding the horn. Company officials said at a press conference that the train driver sounded the horn after seeing a flag signal, but Tobu Railway has not confirmed whether the lookout properly alerted the workers. Police are investigating if safety guidelines were followed.
The Spread
What they agree on
- Four workers died after being hit by an express train at Shin-Kanuma Station in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
- The accident occurred around 10:45 a.m. on Thursday while the workers were removing weeds on the tracks.
- The train involved was a limited-express train on the Tobu Nikko Line.
- No passengers or train crew were injured in the incident.
- Police are investigating whether safety guidelines, including the role of a designated lookout, were followed.
Where they split
- BBC News states that the fatalities were among a team of ten working at the site, including a supervisor and three lookouts, while Kyodo News and South China Morning Post report a total of seven workers were engaged in weeding work.
- BBC News mentions the workers were spraying herbicide, whereas Kyodo News, South China Morning Post, and The Japan Times state they were removing weeds.
- BBC News includes a passenger's account of hearing a "strange noise" and an emergency stop, a detail not present in other reports.