Saturday, February 24, 2001

By Wayne Specht
Misawa bureau chief

Wayne Specht / Stars and Stripes Misawa City Mayor Shigeyoshi Suzuki talks with police at the scene of a fatal two-car accident that claimed the lives of a Misawa airman and a Japanese motorist last Sunday. To Suzuki’s left is Misawa Police Chief Tetsuo Terashita; at far left is Lt. Col. Curt Sheldon, 35th Fighter Wing chief of safety.

MISAWA, Japan — Base and city officials Thursday visited the scene of a two-car accident that claimed the lives of a U.S. airman and a Japanese driver.

Air Force safety and security officials joined Mayor Shigeyoshi Suzuki as well as city police and safety investigators at the scene on a prefectural highway about three miles south of Misawa Air Base.

"The Air Force was invited by the city to come and discuss matters of mutual concern," said 1st Lt. Tonya Summerall, a base spokeswoman.

A rose-bedecked cross surrounding a photo of Staff Sgt. Benjamin G. Lufi, 25, stood next to a concrete post near the accident site. Lufi was a passenger in a car driven by Senior Airman Shawn Uyeda, 23, who was injured in the Sunday afternoon accident. Both were weapons loaders with the 13th Fighter Squadron.

Flowers in memory of 26-year-old Takeshi Kashiwazaki, driver of the truck that collided with Uyeda’s car, were placed next to the Lufi memorial. A passenger in Kashiwazaki’s truck was treated for a broken leg.

The police report said Uyeda’s car crossed the centerline and hit the truck. However, police have not yet determined a cause.

Suzuki examined police photos taken following the accident, then talked to a base safety official about driving habits that have led to past accidents that involved Americans.

"High speed and loud music (inside some cars driven by Americans) possibly takes attention away from driving," Suzuki said through an interpreter. "Military personnel must be educated about this."

Lt. Col. Curt Sheldon, chief of safety for Misawa’s 35th Fighter Wing, told Suzuki that base officials will re-emphasize safe driving to troops assigned here.

During a later meeting at Misawa police headquarters, Japanese police accident investigators told Sheldon that speeding and poor tire condition are common factors in other accidents involving Americans here.

"Some (American) drivers use all-season tires year-round, unlike Japanese who change to winter tires," an investigator said. "Tires are cheaper than paying medical bills caused in an accident."

Sheldon said military and civilian newcomers arriving at the base are required to attend a mandatory local area driving conditions course before receiving their U.S. Forces driver’s license.

He labeled the Air Force safety program at the installation "an aggressive one."

"We’re always looking to improve the program, and will be happy to work (with Japanese police) to our best ability," Sheldon said.

PREVIOUS STORY:
          Feb. 23: Friends, co-workers eulogize Misawa sergeant killed in crash

Back to February's stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home