An elderly man died Tuesday after being struck by three vehicles in succession on a road in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, police said.
The victim, whose identity is not known, was initially hit by a minicar as he walked across National Highway No. 254 shortly after 6 a.m.
The minicar, driven by a 24-year-old local company employee, sped on for about 60 meters with the victim on its hood until the man was eventually thrown onto the opposite lane, where he was hit by an oncoming car being driven by a 48-year-old man from Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
The two drivers got out of their cars and tried to move the victim to safety, but as they were attempting to guide oncoming vehicles out of the way, a light truck hit the victim for a third time and sped away, police said.
Police questioned the first two drivers on suspicion of negligence resulting in death. They are trying to locate the third vehicle and its driver.
The victim appeared to be between 60 and 70 years old and about 165 cm tall.
In another accident, Kayoko Yamamot, a 69-year-old resident of Mito, was killed in an apparent hit-and-run while walking on a road at around 3:45 a.m. He died from massive head injuries. Police are trying to locate the car.
