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2 dead, 26 injured in 67-vehicle pile-up on Japan highway amid heavy snow The initial collision blocked sections of the expressway, and vehicles approaching from behind were unable to stop on the slippery road surface. Advertisement
Burnt vehicles are seen after a massive crash on an expressway in northwest of Tokyo on Saturday, December 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
India Today World Desk New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 27, 2025 20:11 IST Written By: Vivek Kumar At least two people were killed while 26 others were injured following a deadly multi-vehicle collision on a snow-covered highway in Japan late Friday, as the country began its year-end holiday travel rush. The crash involved 67 vehicles on the Kan-etsu Expressway in Gunma prefecture, around 160 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, according to prefectural highway police. Authorities said the chain-reaction pileup began when two trucks collided in the town of Minakami amid heavy snowfall. advertisement The initial collision blocked sections of the expressway, and vehicles approaching from behind were unable to stop on the slippery road surface. As traffic continued to pile up, dozens of cars and trucks became trapped in the growing wreckage.
A major fire broke out at one end of the crash site, engulfing about 20 vehicles. Some were completely destroyed by the flames. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours, and it was finally extinguished roughly seven hours later, police said. Among the victims was a 77-year-old woman from Tokyo who died while riding in a passenger car. Police also recovered a charred body from the driver’s seat of a truck that was burned out in the fire. Of the 26 people injured, five were reported to be in serious condition. At the time of the accident, weather authorities had issued warnings for heavy snowfall in the region. The crash occurred as many people were travelling for New Year and end-of-year holidays, a peak period for road traffic across Japan. Sections of the Kan-etsu Expressway remained closed on Saturday as police continued their investigation and crews worked to clear debris and clean the roadway. - Ends Published By: Vivek Published On: Dec 27, 2025 Tune In Must Watch (责任编辑：) |
