A U.S. Navy sailor told a Japanese court on May 7, 2025, that he made an illegal turn near Yokosuka Naval Base on Sept. 18, 2024, causing a fatal collision. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOSUKA, Japan — A U.S. Navy sailor pleaded no contest Wednesday in a Japanese court to causing the death of a motorcyclist in a collision near Yokosuka Naval Base last year. He may face up to 18 months in prison.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaden Edwin Llanos, 22, admitted making an illegal right turn on Sept. 18 at an intersection near the base, striking motorcyclist Tsubasa Ito, 22, who died shortly after the collision.
Prosecutors recommended an 18-month prison sentence if Llanos is found guilty when he returns to Yokohama District Court’s Yokosuka Branch on May 27. His defense lawyers requested a suspended sentence.
Llanos, assigned to the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge, told the court he saw signage prohibiting right turns but misunderstood a second sign that he believed indicated the turn was legal. He and several passengers were headed to a sushi restaurant around 6:40 p.m. when the collision occurred.
Ito died less than an hour later at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital from heart damage caused by a chest injury, prosecutors said.
Llanos acknowledged his responsibility and has “reflected sincerely,” his lawyers said. He also attended Ito’s wake and funeral, offered condolences to the family, and paid condolence money.
Dashcam footage from a nearby vehicle, presented as evidence, showed the collision. The video prompted quiet sobs from Ito’s parents, who sat with prosecutors. They were not identified.
Llanos testified he did not see Ito’s motorcycle, which struck the left side of his vehicle, though he did see headlights from an oncoming car.
Prosecutors questioned Llanos about his driving after the accident. Though he told the court he stopped driving, he later admitted to using his girlfriend’s car on base several times a week for about two months.
“Even though he has acquired a permit to drive, one can tell that he doesn’t have a full understanding of traffic rules, and it is highly possible he could cause another accident,” prosecutors said in their closing statement.
Llanos repeatedly apologized during the three-hour hearing. Ito’s parents, however, said they did not feel he was remorseful.
“Not a single teardrop,” Ito’s father said, referring to Llanos’ presence at his son’s funeral.
“My son was just 22 — he lived only a quarter of his life,” the father said in a statement to the court. “When I think of that, I feel I should have died instead of Tsubasa.”
Llanos and his command offered about $2,100 in condolence money, in addition to approximately $210,000 insurance payment received by the family.
In his final statement, Llanos expressed deep regret.
“I have no words to describe it — I’m truly, deeply sorry,” he told Ito’s parents. “I truly wish your son could come home and tell you how much he loves you. Nothing like this will ever happen again.”
