A series of collisions on a major Japanese highway left one woman dead and dozens injured as heavy year‑end snowfall created treacherous driving conditions. The accidents occurred on the Kan‑Etsu Expressway near Minakami in Gunma Prefecture, about 160 kilometres northwest of Tokyo.
Highway police said the chain reaction began when two trucks collided on the snow‑covered road. Moments later, other vehicles lost control on the slippery surface and crashed one after another due to poor visibility and icy conditions.
More than 50 vehicles were damaged in the pile‑up. Police confirmed that a 77‑year‑old woman from Tokyo died in the crash. Among the 26 injured, five remain in critical condition.
Emergency crews and highway authorities are working to clear the wreckage and restore traffic flow. Police said parts of the expressway were shut down after the initial truck collision, causing vehicles approaching from behind to skid and collide as they struggled to brake on the snow‑blanketed road.
Local media reported that a fire broke out at the far end of the crash site, spreading to more than a dozen vehicles. Several of them were completely destroyed.
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