FUKUOKA (TR) – Police have arrested a 41-year-old municipal official who crashed his car into a river while driving drunk, only to flee the scene and fall asleep at his office, reports RKB TV (Apr. 30).
Kazuaki Kojima, a section chief in the Citizen Collaboration Promotion Division of Ukiha City Hall, was taken into custody on Wednesday on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act, including driving under the influence and failing to report an accident.
According to police, the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. that same day in the Tanushimarumachi area of Kurume City. Kojima, driving while intoxicated, slammed into a guardrail before his vehicle plunged into a river.
An onboard sensor in the vehicle detected the crash and alerted Kojima’s insurance company. When operators received no response from the driver, they immediately contacted police. However, by the time officers arrived at the crash site, Kojima had already fled.
He didn’t go far. Shortly after 8:00 a.m., Kojima’s supervisor discovered him fast asleep inside the Ukiha City Hall building. The boss subsequently marched Kojima to the Ukiha Police Station to turn himself in.
Even hours after the crash, Kojima tested over the legal limit for alcohol, prompting his formal arrest later that night.
During police questioning, Kojima admitted to the charges.
“I was drinking with colleagues at an izakaya in Ukiha City. I drank four beers and four glasses of shochu mixed with water,” Kojima told investigators. “I fled because I knew I would be arrested by the police if my drunk driving was discovered.”
In the wake of the arrest, Ukiha City issued a formal apology.
“We deeply apologize for this incident, which has severely damaged the trust of our citizens,” the city said in a statement. “We will promptly implement measures to prevent any recurrence.”
