A school club journey from Niigata to Fukushima ended in tragedy on Wednesday morning after a microbus carrying Hokuetsu High School students crashed on the Ban-Etsu Expressway, killing a 17-year-old male student and leaving 26 others injured.
A multi-car accident on the inbound lanes of the Ban-Etsu Expressway in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on Wednesday morning, resulted in one death and 26 injuries, some serious.https://t.co/PYmhy6NLeS pic.twitter.com/VSk6S55Vnf
— The Japan News (@The_Japan_News) May 6, 2026
The accident happened at around 7:40 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. on May 6 on the inbound lanes of the Ban-Etsu Expressway near Takadama, Atami Town, in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture. The students were traveling from Niigata City for club activities when the microbus struck roadside safety equipment, according to police and local media reports.
The bus was carrying students from Hokuetsu High School, located in Chuo Ward, Niigata City. School officials said the vehicle had left Niigata at around 5:30 a.m. before the crash occurred roughly two hours later in Fukushima Prefecture.
Police said the microbus was driven by 68-year-old Tetsuo Wakayama, a resident of Tainai City in Niigata Prefecture. Investigators are now examining what caused the vehicle to hit a guardrail and an impact-absorbing cushion drum along the expressway.
The force of the crash threw one 17-year-old male student from the bus. He was later confirmed dead. Emergency crews transported 26 injured people to hospitals, including several who suffered serious injuries such as fractures. Officials said the seriously injured victims were not believed to be in life-threatening condition at the time of the latest updates.
The crash did not involve only the microbus. After the initial impact, the bus reportedly returned toward the traffic lane, where a one-box vehicle carrying six people collided with it from behind. Police are reviewing the sequence of events to determine whether the second collision worsened the injuries or damage.
Images from the scene showed heavy damage to the front of the microbus, with emergency responders, police officers, and highway officials working around the vehicle. The accident led to the closure of both directions of the Ban-Etsu Expressway between Bandai Atami Interchange and Inawashiro Bandai Kogen Interchange.
Hokuetsu High School said it was urgently confirming the condition of students and communicating with families, hospitals, and police. The school community is now facing the shock of a routine club activity trip turning into a fatal highway accident.
The incident has also raised questions about passenger safety on small buses used for school-related travel. Because the student who died was thrown from the vehicle, investigators are expected to review seatbelt use, seating positions, vehicle condition, road conditions, and the driver’s actions before the crash.
The Ban-Etsu Expressway is an important route connecting Niigata and Fukushima through inland areas of northeastern Japan. During holiday periods, expressways across Japan often see heavier traffic as families, students, and tour groups travel between prefectures.
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Japan has strict road safety systems, but accidents involving school groups often draw national attention because of the number of young passengers involved and the emotional impact on families, classmates, and local communities. The National Police Agency of Japan provides public information on traffic safety and enforcement through its official website at npa.go.jp.
Fukushima Prefectural Police are continuing their investigation into the fatal Ban-Etsu Expressway crash. Authorities are expected to examine the damaged bus, speak with witnesses, check road conditions, and review whether any traffic violation or mechanical problem contributed to the accident.
As of the latest available information, the death of the 17-year-old student remains the only confirmed fatality, while 26 people were injured. Further updates are expected as police and school officials release more details.
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