Electric scooters of the kind shown here are common on the streets of Japan. (Pixabay)
A U.S. Marine was hospitalized with a head injury early Friday after crashing an electric kickboard scooter on a street in Naha, Okinawa’s capital city, according to the Marine Corps and Japanese police.
The unidentified Marine private first class, age 19, is assigned to Camp Hansen, a spokesman for the Okinawa Prefectural Police said by phone Saturday.
The Marine was riding the kickboard northbound at 6:14 a.m. in the Tsuji district of Naha, the spokesman said. The Marine hit a tree on an unnamed road from the Meijibashi intersection of Routes 58 and 329 toward the Wakasa district, the spokesman said.
The Marine suffered brain hemorrhaging and was taken to an unnamed hospital in southern Okinawa, the police spokesman said. The accident is under investigation.
Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.
The Marine “collided with a concrete wall and was flung into a tree, resulting in serious injuries that required hospitalization,” Capt. Brett Vannier, a spokesman for the 3d Marine Logistics Group at Camp Kinser, said by email Saturday.
Vannier said the Marines are working with local police as the investigation continues.
AloJapan.com