TOKYO (TR) – Prosecutors have indicted a 34-year-old former delivery driver after he fatally struck a pedestrian while asleep at the wheel, a tragedy the accused blames on an inability to treat his severe sleep apnea due to gambling debts, reports TBS News (Sep. 15).
Naoki Hara was indicted without arrest on a charge of dangerous driving resulting in death on Monday. In April, Hara’s light van plowed into a 78-year-old man using a crosswalk at an intersection in Setagaya Ward, killing him.
According to investigators, Hara had been diagnosed with severe Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) but was neglecting his medical treatment at the time of the crash.
Speaking to reporters, Hara confessed that he had begun renting a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to treat his condition in March of last year, but returned the life-saving device just months later.
“Around October of last year, I was up to my neck in gambling debts,” Hara said. “I couldn’t pay the fees, so I returned the CPAP.” The rental cost for the device was approximately 4,500 yen per month under national health insurance.
Untreated condition
Hara’s untreated condition was extreme. While a patient experiencing 30 breathing interruptions per hour is classified as “severe,” Hara revealed his tests showed over 100 interruptions per hour—more than three times the severe baseline.
Despite his extreme daytime fatigue, Hara continued to drive, claiming that taking time off work would severely impact his income.
The fatal incident was not his first warning sign. Shortly before the April tragedy, Hara had caused two other accidents believed to be caused by dozing at the wheel. On the day of the fatal crash, witnesses and traffic footage showed Hara’s vehicle swerving erratically for roughly 1.4 kilometers before hitting the pedestrian.
“I felt sleepy, but I took it lightly, thinking I’d be fine if I just drove a little further,” Hara told reporters. “I entered the intersection completely unconscious. I am so sorry. That is all I can say.”
Medical experts emphasize the extreme risks of untreated apnea. Dr. Hiroto Nishizawa of the Akasaka Odayaka Clinic noted that severe SAS can cause patients to fall asleep suddenly and unconsciously during meetings or while speeding down a highway.
“Having sleep apnea doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t drive,” Dr. Nishizawa said. “The important thing is to receive proper treatment and have a doctor make an appropriate medical judgment.”
