Tokyo - A female pedestrian was killed and another badly injured in a car accident in western Japan, involving a man playing the popular Pokémon Go game while driving, authorities said Wednesday.
It was the first fatal accident in Japan linked to the augmented-reality mobile game since its release in the country a month ago, Japanese police said.
The 39-year-old farmer was arrested after his vehicle hit the two women on a road in the city of Tokushima on the south-western island of Shikoku Tuesday evening, Kyodo News agency reported, citing local police officials.
The man told investigators he was “playing the Pokémon Go game” while driving, Kyodo said.
The game involves players using the application to search for Pokémon, rare cartoon monsters, around real life geographical locations.
The National Police Agency reported Tuesday that 79 bicycle and car accidents related to playing the game took place in Japan since its release in late July.
DPA