Filipino dies in hit-and-run in Japan; school vice principal arrested as suspect

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A 54-year-old Japanese man has been arrested after allegedly hitting a Filipino woman who was riding her bicycle home in Kawaguchi, Japan last Saturday, July 28. The woman died from her injuries.

The 56-year-old victim identified as Josephine Rameda Ito was found beside her bicycle on a street at around 2:30 a.m., reports Japan Today. Ito was on her way home from work at a pub.

The back of her bicycle was smashed and she suffered from severe head injuries. Ito passed away early Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, a 54-year-old elementary school vice principal, Yohshiaki Tanaki has been arrested for the suspected negligent driving today, July 30, reports Fuji TV.

Tanaki admitted to police that he “had been drinking” prior to the accident and that he remembered hitting something, but didn’t realize it was a person.

Representatives of the Kawaguchi Board of Education confirmed that Tanaka was drinking with the school principal on Friday night, at about 6:30 p.m. They separated at 10 p.m. and Tanaka said he would ride the bus going home.

Tanaka has been accused of bumping Ito on her bicycle and for not stopping to call for help or give first aid. Niña V. Guno/JB

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