Tea leaves cause 11-car pileup in Japan’s Tochigi Prefecture; resulting in one death, three taken to hospital

Tea leaves scattered from a truck bed are seen on a road in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, on Sunday. - Photo: The Yomiuri Shimbun

UTSUNOMIYA, (Japan): A pileup involving at least 11 vehicles occurred on National Route 50 in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, at around 5.40am on Sunday (Jan 4), resulting in the death of a 78-year-old man.

According to the Tochigi prefectural police, a truck ran is thought to have accidentally scattered tea leaves from its bed for about 500 meters.

Drivers in vehicles behind the truck attempted to avoid the tea leaves, making errors in the process.

Three others sustained injuries and were taken to hospital. - The Yomiuri Shimbun