47 mostly foreigners injured in bus collision on Tokyo expressway

TOKYO - Forty-seven people, mostly foreign nationals, were injured on April 5 after one tour bus rear-ended another while the two vehicles were travelling on an expressway in western Tokyo, Japanese police said.

At least one Singaporean passenger was on board the rear-ended bus but that person was confirmed to be safe, travel agency KKday, which had a total of 12 customers affected by the crash, told The Straits Times.
“The tour has been immediately stopped, and all 12 KKday customers were taken to the hospital for medical checks,” its statement said.
It also noted that the bus that was rear-ended was carrying not just its clients but also passengers from other travel platforms and agencies.

It added that its other customers were from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia. None of KKday’s customers were seriously injured.

Five Malaysians were on board the two tour buses, and suffered just minor injuries which they received treatment for, said Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry.

KKday also helped them return to their hotels and is providing support with insurance claims, it said, adding that affected customers will be offered full refunds.

The bus supplier involved meets local safety regulations and an official accident report will be provided, said KKday.

None of the other casualties have life-threatening injuries following the collision, which a bus driver reported at around 10.15am to have occurred near the mouth of the Kobotoke Tunnel on the Chuo Expressway in Hachioji.

The buses had earlier left JR Tokyo Station and were on their way to Lake Kawaguchi in neighbouring Yamanashi prefecture.

• Additional reporting by Christie Chiu

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