(Mainichi)

       KYOTO -- A man using an electric wheelchair has died after he was struck by a passing train at a railway platform in this west Japan city on Jan. 11.

       The deceased was at the Kintetsu Railway Co. Kyoto Line's Mukaijima Station in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward when he was struck at around 2:15 p.m. by a six-car passing train headed from Kokusaikaikan Station to Kintetsu Nara Station in neighboring Nara Prefecture. There were no injuries among the approximately 80 passengers aboard. Kyoto Prefectural Police's Fushimi Police Station is working on identifying the man, and investigating the detailed cause as to why he came into contact with the train.

       According to the police station, the train driver saw the man reversing with his back to the tracks just before he and the train made contact. Although the driver applied the emergency brakes, the train could not avoid the wheelchair. Mukaijima Station is not outfitted with platform barriers to stop people falling onto the tracks.

       Kintetsu Railway Co. said the man had informed station staff at the ticket gate of his intended destination about five minutes before the incident, and that staff had intended to prepare a ramp for him to board his train upon its arrival.

       (Japanese original by Kanae Soejima, Kyoto Bureau)

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0