SAITAMA (TR) – Saitama Prefectural Police have arrested a 52-year-old automobile federation employee after he intentionally trapped another motorist’s vehicle inside a railway crossing, causing it to be struck by an oncoming train, reports Nippon News Network (Aug. 19).
Investigative sources revealed that the suspect, identified as Kenichi Kato, is an employee of the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF).
Upon his arrest on suspicion of attempted murder, Kato denied the allegations of attempted murder, telling investigators, “I had no intention of killing him.”
Blocking the victim’s car
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at a railway crossing on the Tobu Urban Park Line between Nanasato and Iwatsuki stations in Saitama City. According to police, Kato became enraged over the victim’s driving. In a blatant act of road rage, Kato crossed the train tracks and abruptly halted his vehicle just past the exit, intentionally blocking the victim’s car from leaving the crossing.
Kato allegedly exited his vehicle to confront and shout at the trapped driver. When the railway crossing alarm began to sound, Kato retreated to his own car.
As the crossing gates lowered, one caught on the victim’s white passenger car. The victim stepped out of his vehicle to attempt to physically lift the barrier, at which point a train slammed into the rear of his car, spinning it upon impact.
Suspension of train services
Miraculously, the driver escaped unhurt, and no passengers aboard the train were injured. The collision forced the suspension of train services on a section of the line for approximately an hour and a half.
Initially, authorities treated the scene as a standard traffic accident. However, after reviewing nearby security camera footage that captured Kato’s vehicle passing and immediately stopping to block the victim, police upgraded the investigation to a case of attempted murder.
A local resident who spoke to the victim immediately after the crash recalled the chaotic aftermath. “He asked me what he should do, so I told him he better dial 110,” the resident said. “It’s terrifying. An attempted murder right near my house.”
