A cargo truck crashed into a roadside slope on the southbound Tohoku Expressway this morning, killing the driver [1].

The incident highlights the extreme dangers of high-speed collisions on Japan's major expressways, where vehicle ejection can lead to secondary impacts.

The crash occurred in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, in the southbound lane of the Tohoku Expressway [1]. According to reports, the vehicle struck the left-hand slope of the highway and sustained severe damage [1].

Police said the impact caused the driver to be thrown from the vehicle [1]. Investigators said the driver may have been struck by a following vehicle after being ejected, which resulted in his death [1].

Two people were initially transported from the scene [2]. One person, the driver, died [2]. The second occupant, a passenger, was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries [1].

Only one cargo truck was identified as the primary vehicle involved in the initial crash [2]. Local authorities said they are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the accident to determine why the truck left the roadway and struck the slope [1].

“The driver may have been struck by a following vehicle after being ejected.”

This accident underscores the critical risk of occupant ejection in heavy vehicle crashes. When drivers are thrown from a cabin, they become vulnerable to secondary collisions with following traffic, which often increases the likelihood of a fatality even if the initial impact was survivable.