YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa Pref. (Kyodo) The U.S. military has imposed a pay cut and suspended punishments on a U.S. sailor who drove away after hitting three boys with a minivan in Tokyo last December, the U.S. naval forces in Japan said Wednesday.
The 23-year-old sailor, stationed at the Atsugi Naval Air Facility in Kanagawa Prefecture, had her basic pay cut by 50 percent for two months -- equivalent to about $1,500 -- for reckless driving. She also received suspended punishments of restriction to base for 45 days and reduction in rank at a captain's mast administrative hearing on March 2, according to the U.S. naval command.
On Jan. 31, police sent papers on the sailor to prosecutors on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in injury.
According to the police investigation, the vehicle driven by the sailor hit three third-grade boys at an intersection in Hachioji, western Tokyo, after she ran a red light. One boy, 9, was seriously injured, suffering a broken collarbone. The other two sustained minor injuries.