AOMORI (Kyodo) A freight train hit a city bus Monday morning in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, injuring the six women passengers on the bus, police said.
The bus driver was arrested.
Two of the passengers were seriously injured and were rushed to a hospital.
The crossing has warning signals but no gate. The train struck the left side of the bus at around 10:30 a.m.
Toru Hashiba, 46, was arrested for alleged negligence in driving resulting in injuries.
The accident took place in the Kawaragi district of Hachinohe on the private Hachinohe Rinkai Tetsudo Line.
According to the railway, a driver and another employee were aboard the diesel locomotive pulling the nine-car train.
The train had departed Hachinohe Kamotsu (cargo) Station at 10:10 a.m. heading toward Kitanuma Station, the railway said.
The Transport Safety Commission under the transport ministry dispatched staff to Hachinohe later in the day to investigate the accident.
