Japanese actress Ryoko Hirosue, 45, has been summarily indicted for negligent driving causing injury in a car accident on an expressway in Shizuoka Prefecture. Prosecutors decided not to pursue charges over an alleged assault on a nurse. The incident occurred on April 7 when she collided with a trailer truck while driving at about 185 km/h.
On December 22, Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office issued a summary indictment against Japanese actress Ryoko Hirosue, 45, for negligent driving resulting in injury from a traffic accident on the Shin-Tomei Expressway in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. According to the indictment, the crash happened around 6:45 p.m. on April 7 when Hirosue, driving at approximately 185 km/h, changed lanes in a tunnel and collided with a large trailer truck. The man in the front passenger seat suffered broken ribs, while the truck driver was unharmed.
Hirosue sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital in the prefecture, where she allegedly kicked a female nurse multiple times, leading to her arrest on suspicion of assault in the early hours of April 8. She was released eight days later. Police sent the case to prosecutors in November.
Prosecutors opted not to indict her on the assault charge. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kenshi Konagamitsu stated, "We considered various circumstances, including road conditions, the nature of the negligence, the victim's wishes, and steps taken to prevent a recurrence." The summary indictment allows for a fine without a formal trial. Hirosue cooperated voluntarily with the investigation, including participating in a scene reconstruction at a Hamamatsu service area in July.
Hirosue rose to fame in the 1990s and starred in films such as the Oscar-winning "Departures."