A rear-end collision between two tour buses on the Chuo Expressway in western Tokyo on Saturday morning left 47 people injured, the majority of them foreign nationals, according to Tokyo Metropolitan Police.
The incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. near the entrance of the Kobotoke Tunnel in Hachioji. Both buses were traveling in the same tour group, having departed from JR Tokyo Station en route to Lake Kawaguchi, a popular destination near Mt. Fuji in neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture.
Authorities say that none of the injuries are life-threatening
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accident happened when the driver of the second bus failed to notice that the lead bus had braked during a series of frequent stops caused by traffic congestion. Both buses are operated by the same company.
The collision forced a temporary closure of the outbound lanes between Hachioji Junction and Sagamiko Interchange, according to Central Nippon Expressway Co., the expressway’s operator. Emergency response teams and traffic police were deployed to the scene to manage the situation and assist the injured.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the actions of the bus drivers and possible mechanical issues.
This accident raises fresh concerns over highway safety and the handling of large tour groups, especially during Japan’s busy spring travel season.
