ODAWARA, Japan, June 30 (UPI) -- A man who lit himself on fire aboard a Japanese high-speed train killed a fellow passenger and injured several others on Tuesday.
The first fatal incident in the rail network's 50 year history, the incident claimed the life of female passenger Yoshiko Kuwahara, 52, and injured 26 others.
Eyewitness reports claim that the man, 71, stepped out of an in-cabin bathroom before dousing himself in fuel from a white canister and igniting it with a cigarette lighter, producing heavy smoke that filled the cabin. The man was later identified as Tokyo resident Haruo Hayashizaki.
The high-speed Nozomi train, headed to Osaka from Tokyo, came to a full stop to allow passengers to exit. The incident occurred at 11:30 a.m. local time between Yokohama and Odawara stations, with service resuming at 2 p.m. local time.
Hayashizaki's motive remains unclear. Police added that he attempted to give money to a female passenger, who refused to accept it. Hayashizaki then doused himself in fuel and told her to run away.
