The intersection of Route 58 and Prefectural Route 81 is the second most dangerous on Okinawa, according to a traffic safety white paper issued in June 2025 by the prefectural police. (Ryan M. Breeden/Stars and Stripes)
This story has been corrected.
An airman stationed at Kadena Air Base has died from a brain injury suffered in a motorcycle crash two weeks ago on Okinawa, the Air Force and local police said.
The airman, 33, was pronounced dead at 8:34 p.m. Thursday at Urasoe General Hospital, according to an 18th Wing news release issued Friday. His name is being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin.
He died of a brain hemorrhage he sustained after his motorcycle collided with a compact car at an intersection in the Isa area of Ginowan city on Oct. 17, an Okinawa Prefectural Police spokesman said by phone Friday.
The airman had been traveling south from Kadena town toward Naha city on Route 58 when he collided with a vehicle turning right from the opposite lane, a Ginowan city police spokesman said Oct. 20. Both drivers were taken to a central Okinawa hospital.
The airman was unconscious as of Oct. 20, police said.
The Japanese man driving the car was released from the hospital after a medical examination, according to the 18th Wing. He is 26 years old, according to police.
Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.
The incident remains under investigation, said the wing, which acknowledged but did not answer phone and email questions Friday.
The intersection where the crash occurred is the second most dangerous on Okinawa, according to a traffic safety white paper issued in June by the prefectural police, which recorded six accidents there in 2024.
Stars and Stripes reporters Hana Kusumoto and Keishi Koja contributed to this report.
Correction
Due to a translation error, a previous version of this story stated the airman was in a coma following the accident. He was unconscious.
AloJapan.com