Girl, pregnant woman killed as Japan car hits group

TOKYO – A seven-year-old girl and a pregnant woman were killed Monday when a car hit a group of elementary school children near the tourist city of Kyoto in Japan.

Five children were seriously hurt when the car, driven by an 18-year-old without a licence, crashed into the nine youngsters and one adult.

Yukihi Matsumura, 26, who was seven months pregnant, and Mao Odani, 7, were declared dead several hours after the crash, which happened at around 8.00 am as the youngsters were being taken to school.

Matsumura’s unborn baby also died in the accident in Kameoka city near Kyoto in western Japan, a police spokesman said.

Officers arrested the teenage driver, who had been up all night with two friends, police said, with local media reporting he might have fallen asleep behind the wheel.

“He has said he was playing around all night,” a police spokesman said, while declining to spell out whether alcohol or drugs were a factor.

The incident came less than two weeks after eight people were killed when an apparently epileptic driver crashed a minivan into pedestrians in Kyoto city, Japan’s ancient capital known for its temples and traditional culture.