Hokuetsu High School officials denied requesting a low-cost rental bus and driver from a transport provider following a microbus accident [1, 2].

The dispute centers on whether the school pressured the operator to find an economical transport solution, which could impact liability and safety oversight regarding the accident on the Banetsu Expressway.

Principal Masahiro Haino of Hokuetsu High School, located in Chuo Ward, Niigata City, addressed the issue during a press conference and a meeting with parents [1, 2]. Haino said that the school did not ask for a rental car or a driver because they lacked staff. "It is not a fact," Haino said. "We did not ask them to provide a rental car, nor did we ask them to provide a driver because there were no drivers" [1].

These statements directly contradict claims made by Kabawara Railway. The bus operator previously said that the school had requested the arrangement of a rental car and driver in a manner that was "cheap" and "economical" [1, 2].

When asked about the discrepancy between the two accounts, Kabawara Railway President Kazuhiro Shigeno declined to provide a detailed response. Shigeno said he would refrain from commenting because the parties have been speaking as part of an ongoing investigation [1].

The disagreement emerged as the school and the operator attempted to coordinate responses to the accident. While the operator suggested the school's desire for a budget-friendly option influenced the vehicle choice, the school maintains it made no such request [1, 2].

“"It is not a fact," Haino said.”

The conflict between Hokuetsu High School and Kabawara Railway suggests a significant breakdown in communication or a strategic disagreement over accountability. If the school had indeed requested a low-cost alternative, it could raise questions about prioritizing budget over safety protocols. Conversely, if the operator fabricated the request, it may be an attempt to shift a portion of the responsibility for the accident onto the school administration.