Share

Driver kills woman in car crash while playing Pokemon GO

Tokyo, Japan - A driver who was allegedly playing Pokemon GO when he hit and killed a woman in Japan has been arrested, police said Wednesday.

Authorities said that on the incident marked Japan's first fatal vehicle accident involving the popular gaming app.

Keiji Gooh, a 39-year-old farmer, allegedly struck two women on Tuesday evening on a road in Tokushima city, western Japan, as he played the app while driving, a police spokesman said.

Striking senior ladies

One of the women, aged 72, died while the other, 60, was seriously injured, the spokesman said.

Jiji Press said it was the nation's first fatal accident involving a driver playing Pokemon Go while at the wheel.

WATCH: This Poké-fool crashes into cops

Jiji also said there have been nearly 80 accidents in Japan involving modes of transportation including cars and bicycles since the app was introduced into Japan in last month.

Authorities worldwide have issued a slew of warnings since the hugely popular smartphone app was launched in July.

Rising crime rate

It has already been blamed for a wave of crimes, traffic violations and complaints in cities around the globe.

The free app uses satellite locations, graphics and camera capabilities to overlay cartoon monsters on real-world settings, challenging players to capture and train the creatures for battles.

READ: 'Don't play Pokemon GO and drive' - AA warns SA motorists

Pokemon has been popular in Japan since first being launched as software in 1996 for Nintendo's iconic Game Boy console.

It expanded into other media, most notably a wildly popular TV animation show and its popularity has never waned.

Below are two stories involving Pokémon GO crashes:

1 WATCH: This Poké-fool crashes into cops

Another day, another failed attempt by a young driver to 'catch them all'... watch as this reckless Pokemon GO player crashes into cops.

2  You don't 'gotta catch 'em all' - Pokemon GO sends driver crashing into tree

This driver crashed his car into a tree whilst playing Pokemon GO. 

WATCH: If you think Pokémon isn't huge, check out the video below...

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE