Defendants responsible for six deaths in Shinmeishin worked illegal overtime? Transport company president sent to prosecutors - Hiroshima Central Labor Standards Station

On the 7th, the Hiroshima Central Labor Standards Inspection Office referred the transportation company ``HIROKI'' (Hiroshima City) and its male president (50) to prosecutors on charges of violating the Labor Standards Act, alleging that the five defendants, including the former truck driver who caused the accident, worked illegal overtime in connection with an accident that killed six people on the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Mie Prefecture.

Former truck driver sentenced to 7 years in prison after driving while looking at smartphone, causing accident that killed 6 people in Shinmeishin - Tsu District Court

The suspect is accused of forcing five truck drivers, including Mizutoyo Mizutani (55), who is currently on trial for violating the Motor Vehicle Driving Punishment Act (causing death due to negligent driving), to work overtime in excess of the labor-management agreement in the month ending December 15 of last year.

This was discovered through the supervision and guidance provided after the accident. Three employees worked more than 100 hours of overtime a month, with the longest being 130 hours.

The accident occurred on March 20th. The defendant is said to have been driving his large truck in a distracted manner for approximately 13 seconds, causing the truck to rear-end a convoy of vehicles in traffic, killing six people, including three children. Prosecutors are seeking seven years in prison, the maximum legal penalty, and sentencing is scheduled for the 20th of this month.