Japan Reports Its First Pokemon Go Linked Death

Japan Reports Its First Pokemon Go Linked Death

The birthplace of the Pokemon phenomenon, Japan, has just seen its first Pokemon Go related death, regional news agency Japan Times reports.

Flowers are laid near the scene where a passer-by was killed after being hit by a driver playing "Pokemon Go" while driving in Tokushima, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo August 24, 2016. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Flowers are laid near the scene where a passer-by was killed after being hit by a driver playing “Pokemon Go” while driving in Tokushima, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo August 24, 2016. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

 

A truck driver playing Pokemon Go while driving ran over two women, killing one and injuring the other in the Tokushima Prefecture, local police said.

The suspect, 39-year-old farmer Keiji Goo, admitted to the police that he was immersed in Pokemon Go while driving when he hit the two female pedestrians early that evening.

Sachiko Nakanishi, a 72-year-old woman, was killed in the accident, while her companion, Kayoko Ikawa, 60, was badly injured. According to the prefectural police, the two women were trying to cross the road without a pedestrian crossing.

International news agency Reuters said that the Tokushima prefectural police are currently mulling over a prosecution. “The driver is still in custody. No decision has been made yet on whether to proceed with a prosecution,” the spokesman for the local police noted.

A Nintendo spokesman offered condolences to the family of the deceased woman. “Pokemon Company and Niantic endeavor to create an environment where people can play the game safely and we will continue to do that,” he added.

Early in August, a Pokemon Go related death was reported by mainstream media. A 2o-year-old man playing the game at a tourist spot in San Francisco was shot dead by an unknown assailant.

As always, stay safe, Pokemon Go players. Don’t play the game while driving, unless you’re a passenger.

Source: Japan Times, Reuters

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