Pedestrians Injured in Autonomous Bus Accident in Yahiko, Japan
A 50-year-old operator of an autonomous shuttle bus in Yahiko, Japan struck two pedestrians while driving in manual mode on 12 April 2026. One pedestrian sustained head injuries and was dragged by the vehicle; another suffered leg injuries. The bus had previously experienced two accidents in 2024, both attributed to operator error. The village suspended operations immediately after the incident.
What happened
On 12 April 2026 at 2:05 PM, an autonomous bus called 'Mikopyongo' operated by Yahiko Village struck two pedestrians near the 'Omotenashi Square' tourist facility in Yahiko, Niigata Prefecture. The 50-year-old male operator was driving the bus in manual mode at the time, about 55 metres from the point where the bus had switched from autonomous to manual operation.
Reported impact
A male pedestrian in his 40s sustained head injuries with bleeding and was dragged by the bus. A female pedestrian in her 30s sustained leg contusions. Both were transported to hospital. The operator and seven passengers on the bus were uninjured.
Index analysis
The bus had been restarted only in April after a vehicle malfunction was discovered. The village has experienced two previous accidents in June and August 2024, both attributed to operator human error. The operator stated he had disengaged autonomous mode, and police are investigating the incident as potential operator error.
Governance controls
Following the accident, Yahiko Village immediately suspended all operations of the Mikopyongo bus. Village Mayor Yoshiyuki Honma apologized and stated that the village would focus on understanding the facts. The vehicle is manufactured by Auve Tech of Estonia and uses both 3D mapping and GPS for positioning while maintaining a speed of 20 kilometres per hour.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.