An 83-year-old driver rammed a Marui department store security guard in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, before taking him on its hood across a busy eight-lane street and crashing into a building.
The incident, which occurred Sunday, left the guard, 45, with a severe head injury and a broken leg. The driver, who identified himself as a dance instructor, suffered a slight neck injury.
The accident took place on the south side of Kinshicho Station as the driver was leaving the parking garage and the security guard signaled him to stop.
"I mistook the accelerator pedal for the brake," he reportedly told the police.
Witnesses and police said they saw the car hit the security guard at around 6:45 p.m. and drive across National Route 14, also known as Keiyo Road, with the security guard hanging onto the hood. It then crashed into the lobby of the O.T.K. Building.
"I went outside the store after hearing a loud crashing noise, and saw that a car had crashed into a building and a man was on the ground," said a 22-year-old employee at a nearby noodle shop. "It shocked me because the road was full of people."