Two people were killed when a car driven by an elderly woman suddenly accelerated and broke through a parking lot gate at a hospital in Tachikawa, western Tokyo.

The accident Saturday came as authorities are trying to curb a rise in the number of such incidents, including by advising the elderly to return their driver's license voluntarily and beefing up tests for drivers who might be suffering dementia.

The 83-year-old driver in Tachikawa, who suffered a head injury in the accident, reportedly told the police she hit the brakes, but the car did not stop. The police said they found no traces of braking.