In the early hours of the 20th, at around 2:20 AM, a severe multi-vehicle accident occurred at the Nodan Tunnel on the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture. Emergency services received a call indicating that a truck had crashed into a line of cars caught in traffic, leading to a significant fire. Local police and fire departments reported that the collision involved four vehicles, including personal cars and a large truck, resulting in the tragic loss of five lives.

Two of the involved vehicles were personal cars, and during the incident, both were set ablaze following the impact from the truck. Five individuals who were passengers in these personal cars lost their lives due to the accident. In the aftermath, the truck driver, a 54-year-old employee from Akitakata City in Hiroshima Prefecture, identified as Mizutani Mitsuyo, was arrested on suspicion of violating the Automobile Driving Death And Injury Punishment Act, specifically for negligent driving leading to deaths. Reports indicate that he has admitted to the charges against him.

The accident has caused significant disruptions, with both directions of the Shin-Meishin Expressway being closed between the Komono interchange and the Kameyama Nishi junction due to ongoing investigations and clean-up efforts. This tragic incident highlights concerns over road safety and the necessity for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent such occurrences in the future.