Photo/Illutration The car used to mow down festival-goers in a pedestrian zone in Shizuoka’s Aoi Ward on Aug. 11. Food and drinks lay strewn about. (Sokichi Kuroda)

SHIZUOKA--A 26-year-old man who admitted he deliberately rammed his car into revelers at a summer festival here, injuring three people, was arrested Aug. 11 on suspicion of attempted murder.

A boy under the age of 10 was among the victims.

The suspect, Kazuki Tokimori, 26, was arrested on the spot.

Police said he works for a company and resides in the city’s Suruga Ward. They added that he admitted to the allegation.

The city fire department said it received a 119 emergency call around 6 p.m. that a man in his car had plowed headlong into festival-goers at the site in Aoi Ward.

The area where the festivities were being held had been turned into a temporary pedestrian precinct.

Besides the boy, his father, who is in his 30s, and a woman in her 40s were injured.

The woman was taken to the hospital. The father and son sustained minor injuries but were not transported to hospital. All three were said to be conscious.

A street vendor opening his stall nearby said he heard a loud “crash” as well as screams. The driver then tried to flee the scene but was subdued by bystanders, he said.

The summer festival was held in a downtown area packed with people. Normally, the road is one way. The driver had approached the street from the wrong direction, police said.

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