Japanese police are investigating a series of accidents involving a vehicle that was driving in the wrong lane on the Tohoku Expressway in Nasushiobara City, north of Tokyo. Three people have been killed and 10 injured.
The driver of the wrong-way car caused a minor collision with another vehicle at around 10 p.m. on Saturday.
The vehicle continued to travel against the flow of traffic for nearly three kilometers before colliding head-on with an oncoming car, killing the two drivers.
The driver of the wrong-way car was in his 40s. The driver of the other vehicle in the head-on collision was in his 50s.
Traffic congestion caused by the accident resulted in another collision and pileup involving six vehicles, including a large truck. A woman in her 60s was killed when the truck collided with a line of vehicles.
Police arrested the driver of the truck on suspicion of negligent driving causing death or injury.
A total of 10 people were injured, two of them seriously.
Police received calls about the wrong-way vehicle from around the Kuroiso-Itamuro interchange near the crash site. They believe it entered the expressway at the interchange and traveled against the flow of traffic for more than three kilometers.
Local residents have long pointed to potential risks with the interchange. Vehicles are supposed to turn right at a T-junction, but they can turn left and go in the wrong direction.
They say there are warning signs but it could be hard to see them at night.
Police are examining images collected from dashboard cameras and monitoring cameras.
AloJapan.com