TOKYO: Seven people died when a minivan crashed into a crowd of pedestrians in Japan's temple-spotted ancient capital of Kyoto, officials said Thursday.
Driver Shingo Fujisaki, 30, was killed after his minivan ran a red light and ploughed into pedestrians on the street before smashing into a telephone pole in the tourist district of Gion, a spokesman for Kyoto prefectural police told AFP.
Six of 16 pedestrians who were injured also died, he said.
A Kyoto city fire department official earlier said a total of 14 people including the driver of the minivan were hospitalised, of whom six suffered cardiac arrest.
With its stunning ancient temples and historic streets on which geisha can still be seen, Kyoto is a favourite stop for foreign visitors to Japan.
-AFP/ac
Driver Shingo Fujisaki, 30, was killed after his minivan ran a red light and ploughed into pedestrians on the street before smashing into a telephone pole in the tourist district of Gion, a spokesman for Kyoto prefectural police told AFP.
Six of 16 pedestrians who were injured also died, he said.
A Kyoto city fire department official earlier said a total of 14 people including the driver of the minivan were hospitalised, of whom six suffered cardiac arrest.
With its stunning ancient temples and historic streets on which geisha can still be seen, Kyoto is a favourite stop for foreign visitors to Japan.
-AFP/ac
