A Japanese court has given a man a suspended prison sentence after a young girl was injured by a tire that came off the modified vehicle he was driving.
The owner of the vehicle was ordered to pay a fine.
The accident happened in the northern city of Sapporo in November 2023.
Wakamoto Toyoshi had been driving the modified mini-vehicle when one of the tires detached and hit the 4-year-old girl, who remains in critical condition. He was charged with negligent driving resulting in injury.
Wakamoto allegedly modified the vehicle with its owner, Tanaka Masamitsu. Tanaka was charged with violating a law on road transport vehicles.
At the Sapporo District Court on Thursday, the presiding judge pointed out that Wakamoto failed to properly inspect the vehicle and drove carelessly.
But the judge noted that the defendant regrets what he did, and has pledged never to drive again.
Wakamoto was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years.
Tanaka was fined 200,000 yen, or about 1,400 dollars.
AloJapan.com