Photo/Illutration Firefighters work to extinguish burning vehicles at the scene of a multi-vehicle accident caused by icy road conditions near the Minakami Interchange on the outbound lanes of the Kan-etsu Expressway at 1:10 a.m. on Dec. 27. (Ayano Nakazawa)

One person died and 26 others were injured in a 50-vehicle accident on the icy Kan-etsu Expressway in Gunma Prefecture on the evening of Dec. 26, snarling traffic as travelers began their New Year's holidays travel.  

According to the prefectural police highway patrol, two trucks skidded in the slippery conditions and collided, leading to a chain collision involving more than 50 vehicles, with over 10 vehicles catching fire.

Miyuki Wakita, 77, from Chofu in western Tokyo, died in the accident. Five people suffered serious injuries and 21 others sustained minor injuries.

At around 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 26, an emergency call was received reporting “an accident involving a large truck and another truck” near the Minakami Interchange on the outbound lanes of the Kan-etsu Expressway in Gunma Prefecture.

There are two lanes in each direction at the site. Snow had been falling since morning and at the time of the accident, a speed restriction of 50 kph was in place.

After the two trucks collided, the following vehicles crashed into them or tried to avoid the trucks and struck the guardrail or the median strip.

As of 7 a.m. on Dec. 27, both lanes between the Yuzawa and Tsukiyono  interchanges remained closed.

According to East Nippon Expressway Co., "At present, it is not yet known when the road closure wil be lifted and it is expected to take a considerable amount of time."

(This article was written by Ayano Nakazawa and Shinya Maeda)

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