Japanese woman killed in Pokemon Go accident

Via The Japan Times:

A woman run over by a distracted driver in Tokushima Prefecture is believed to be Japan’s first death related to “Pokemon Go,” police have announced.

The suspect, 39-year-old farmer Keiji Goo, told police he was playing the immersive smartphone game while driving in the city of Tokushima on Tuesday when he hit two female pedestrians at around 7:35 p.m.

The accident killed Sachiko Nakanishi, 72, and left Kayoko Ikawa, 60, badly injured. The two women were trying to cross the road at a point where there was no pedestrian crossing, Tokushima police said.

This is the first death linked to Pokemon Go in Japan. The National Center for Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) released nine guidelines (PDF) before the game’s release in the country amid safety concerns. At launch, the creators, including Niantic CEO John Hanke, also released a special video statement for Japan reminding users to stay aware of their surroundings.

The Japan Times reports that there have been 79 traffic accidents caused by the game. In the United States, police body cam footage caught an accident caused by the game on camera. Fortunately the video shows no one was hurt, but it serves as a reminder to keep your eyes on the road and please, do not play while driving.