HIROSHIMA (TR) – Hiroshima Prefectural Police arrested a 66-year-old employee of the prefectural police headquarters for driving under the influence of alcohol after he crashed his vehicle into a roadside gutter on Saturday.
In a twist, the suspect is an employee of the Traffic Guidance Division, reports Hiroshima TV (Aug. 2).
At around 4:00 p.m., the unnamed man was allegedly driving on a prefectural road in Kami-Nikocho, Kure City while heavily intoxicated.
The incident came to light when a witness called emergency dispatchers to report a car with its tires stuck in a drainage ditch. Responding officers arrived at the scene to find the suspect still inside the vehicle.
Noticing the strong smell of alcohol, officers administered a breathalyzer test. The results showed an alcohol concentration more than seven times the legal limit.
During questioning, the man admitted to the allegations, telling investigators, “There is no mistake that I drove after drinking alcohol.” Police are continuing to investigate the exact circumstances leading up to the crash.
The arrest of a traffic enforcement employee prompted a swift apology from top brass.
“This is truly regrettable, and we deeply apologize to the citizens of the prefecture,” the Prefectural Police Inspector’s Office said in a statement. “We will thoroughly investigate the facts and take strict disciplinary action.”
