A massive pileup involving more than 50 cars on the Kan-Etsu Expressway in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, killed a 77-year-old woman and injured 26 others on Friday night. At least 16 vehicles caught fire during the crash, which occurred on a road covered in packed snow. The expressway remains closed between the Yuzawa Interchange in Niigata Prefecture and the Tsukiyono Interchange in Gunma Prefecture.
Around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, a passerby reported a car accident on the northbound Kan-Etsu Expressway near the Minakami Interchange in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture. Local police confirmed it escalated into a pileup involving more than 50 vehicles.
The crash resulted in the death of a 77-year-old woman from Chofu, Tokyo, and injuries to 26 people, including five with serious injuries. At least 16 cars burned in the incident, which took place on a road covered with packed snow.
Authorities are investigating the cause, with the expressway closed between the Yuzawa Interchange in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, and the Tsukiyono Interchange in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture. This section is prone to winter accidents due to snowy conditions. Details on the casualties come directly from police reports.
Officials urge drivers to exercise caution on highways during winter.