Photo/Illutration Police officers investigate the sports field of a high school on Nov. 17 in Saitama’s Nishi Ward where a fatal accident involving an unlicensed teen driver occurred the previous day. (Shun Tsunekawa)

SAITAMA--A 16-year-old student without a driver’s license crashed a school vehicle in the sports field of his high school here, killing his 17-year-old friend who was in the front passenger seat.

The driver and a third student, 17, in the back seat were not injured.

The three boys are second-year students at Saitama Sakae High School.

Authorities received an emergency call at 11:40 p.m. on Nov. 16 reporting that a student was left unconscious after a vehicle flipped onto the passenger side.

The driver lost control after the car's right wheels hit elevated ground in the field just before the accident, according to police.

The vehicle, which had no license plate, is owned by the school. It was apparently used for dragging rollers and rakes to maintain the field.

Authorities are questioning the driver, who could face charges of dangerous driving resulting in death.

The two students told police that they had been driving for about half an hour in the field when the accident occurred.

(This article was written by Satomi Sugihara and Shun Tsunekawa.)

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