Nearly 70 cars crashed consecutively on a Japanese highway

Gunma prefectural officials said the accident occurred on the evening of December 26 on a stretch of road about 300 meters outward from the Kan-etsu Expressway, near the town of Minakami. The fire that broke out due to the accident destroyed about 20 vehicles. It took firefighters about 7 hours to control the fire.

Gunma Prefectural Police said two people were killed, five people were seriously injured and 21 people were slightly injured in the incident. One of the two victims who died was a resident from Chofu city, the other is unknown and is believed to be a truck driver.

Officials say a truck appeared to skid, overturn and block the road, then was hit from behind by a larger truck. Nearby cars and trucks could not avoid it and repeatedly crashed into each other. Police are considering the possibility that the accident originated from slippery road surfaces due to ice and heavy snowfall.

The incident caused the Kan-etsu Expressway to be blocked in both directions. Rescue vehicles are taking vehicles out of the area, but it is unclear when the road will reopen.