The holiday season in Japan started on a tragic note after a massive road accident on the Kan-Etsu Expressway on Friday, which claimed one life. According to AP, the crash left 26 others injured in a chain of collisions involving more than 50 vehicles. The accident took place about 160 kilometres northwest of Tokyo, near the town of Minakami in Gunma Prefecture.
Deadly crash mars holiday season in Japan
According to highway police in Gunma, the incident took place late on December 26 when two trucks collided on the northbound side of the Kan-Etsu Expressway. At the time, the area was under a heavy snowfall alert, resulting in extremely slippery roads. Initial reports suggest that vehicles approaching from behind lost control and were unable to brake in time due to the snowy surface. The chaos led to a massive pile-up that eventually involved over 50 vehicles, police said.
Soon after, a fire broke out at the far end of the pileup. More than a dozen vehicles were engulfed in flames, and several were completely burned down to ashes. Luckily, no one was hurt by fire. However, the blaze was massive and difficult to control. Emergency teams worked for nearly seven hours before finally taking control of the situation.
Massive Fiery Pileup on Kanetsu Expressway Leaves One Dead, Dozens Injured.
— JAS (@JasADRxquisites) December 26, 2025
Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, Japan – A devastating multi-vehicle collision involving dozens of cars and trucks turned into a fiery inferno on the Kanetsu Expressway on December 26, 2025, claiming one life… pic.twitter.com/s4dBirZbMY
Police confirmed that a 77-year-old woman from Tokyo died in the accident. Among the 26 people who were injured, five were rushed to the hospital and remain in critical condition. Authorities said the injuries were primarily caused by the collisions, not by fire.
Expressway shut amid snow alert
The accident happened at the time when people in Japan were beginning their year-end and New Year holidays. At the time, weather warnings for heavy snow were in effect in several regions.
Police were alerted at around 7:30 pm by a passerby. Following the incident, authorities closed the northbound section of the Kan-Etsu Expressway between the Yuzawa Interchange in Niigata Prefecture and the Tsukiyono Interchange in Gunma Prefecture. Authorities also began the long task of clearing damaged vehicles and cleaning the road so traffic could resume safely.
The Kan-Etsu Expressway is 246.3 kilometres long and is a major route connecting Tokyo with the northern regions of Japan.