A 73-year-old epileptic man has been arrested for reckless driving resulting in a seizure-induced crash in the city of Miyazaki that left two pedestrians dead and four injured.

The Miyazaki Prefecture Police arrested Mitsugi Kawauchi of Hioki, Kagoshima Prefecture, on Monday for plowing his car into the six pedestrians in Miyazaki at around 2:50 p.m. Oct. 28, killing two women and injuring four people of both genders.

According to the police, Kawauchi had been diagnosed with epilepsy prior to the accident. They said he lost consciousness while driving. He drove some 700 meters on the sidewalk linking the city center with the northern side of JR Miyazaki Station, knocking down the six pedestrians.

The police, who have charged Kawauchi with violation of reckless driving laws, are trying to verify whether he had been undergoing appropriate treatment, including taking medication.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by partial, temporary seizures, which can affect parts of the brain coordinating body movement. The disorder can often be controlled by medication.

Kawauchi has allegedly admitted to the charges. "I caused the accident because of the seizures that occurred while I was driving," he was quoted as saying.

Kawauchi was hospitalized with severe injuries from the accident but was released Monday morning.

The police said his driver's license was renewed in February.

Although he has shown some symptoms of dementia, the police believe dementia did not have any direct impact on the collision.

On the day of the accident, Kawauchi left his Hioki home early in the morning and drove through Kumamoto Prefecture to Miyazaki Prefecture. The police are still trying to verify where he was headed.