1 killed, 6 hurt as car rams into store

A woman was killed and six people injured Thursday after a minicar plowed into a supermarket in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, apparently after the driver fainted, according to the police.

The driver, Osamu Hamaguchi, 84, of Iwata, was arrested on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in injury.

A woman in her 60s was critically injured in the accident and was taken to hospital, where she was declared dead soon after.

Two people suffered serious injuries, and four had minor injuries.

Hamaguchi was quoted by police as saying, "I felt sick, then everything turned white and I fainted."

According to police, Hamaguchi tried to park the car in a space for the disabled near the entrance of supermarket chain Entetsu Store's Iwata location at about 11:20 a.m. However, the car accelerated, shattered the glass and drove into the supermarket.

The supermarket is near the municipal government office and chamber of commerce and industry in the city's center.

A number of drivers aged 65 or older have been involved in traffic accidents recently.

Last Friday, a car driven by a 79-year-old man ran into an automated teller machine at a shopping center in Kimitsu, Chiba Prefecture, injuring six people who were waiting in line at the ATM.