The accident, involving a bus carrying 20 high school students and other vehicles, occurred on a curved section of the city-bound lane of the Ban-Etsu Expressway in Koriyama, Fukushima prefecture. Local authorities reported that the fire department received a call about the incident at approximately 7:45 h.

A 17-year-old male student from Niigata prefecture was killed after being thrown from the vehicle. The total number of injured in the accident reached 26, with some sustaining serious injuries.

According to FNN, the 68-year-old bus driver departed from a high school in Niigata city, Niigata prefecture, at 5:30 h. The bus was en route to a club activity site located approximately 140 km away in Fukushima. About two hours into the journey, the bus collided with a guardrail, ejecting the 17-year-old student into the oncoming lane. A car carrying six people, traveling immediately behind the bus, also crashed into the guardrail.

The principal of Kitakoshi High School stated, "There was only one supervisor on the bus. The club advisor drove ahead to transport equipment, and the hired bus followed behind." The school had previously used this bus for activities on multiple occasions.

Police reported that the bus had just exited a tunnel before reaching the accident site. Following the tunnel, a sign warned, "Caution: Sharp Curve."

My Anh