A car slammed into a line of vehicles stopped in traffic in Yokohama, triggering an accident involving at least eight vehicles in total. The driver of the vehicle believed to have caused the crash fled the scene, and police are searching for the suspect.

Reporter: 
“It appears that multiple vehicles have been severely damaged.”

Just after noon on May 21, police received a report of “car accident involving around four passengers.”

A multi-vehicle crash occurred in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Reporter:
“This vehicle’s hood has been completely crumpled. And perhaps due to the impact of the rear-end collision, a small car appears to have mounted the sidewalk.”

Moving toward the rear of the vehicle, the trunk had been completely crushed.

According to police, five people were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The vehicle believed to have caused the accident was this black car.

Reporter:
“The airbags in this vehicle have deployed.”

After the crash, the driver allegedly abandoned the car at the scene and remains on the run.

The scene is located about 600 meters from the entrance to the Shimokawai Interchange on the Hodogaya By-pass  in Yokohama.

It is a straight road with good visibility and two lanes on each side.

A person working nearby said:

Reporter:
“Is this an area that often gets congested?”

Person working nearby
“This place is congested pretty much all year round. Normally, traffic backs up when cars try to get onto the bypass.”

Police assume that traffic congestion may have triggered the accident.

The car believed to have caused the crash rear-ended a line of vehicles that had been stopped in traffic. At least seven vehicles, including trucks, were reportedly involved.

Police are searching for the fleeing driver on suspicion of negligent driving causing injury.