Elderly Woman Dies as a Result of Tokyo Escalator Incident

A woman in her 80s died on June 12 as a result of her neck becoming trapped between the underside of an escalator handrail and the floor, Kyodo Newsis among outlets to report. Security footage from a supermarket in the Nishitokyo area of western Tokyo shows the woman falling as she attempts to lift a walker she was using while approaching the bottom of the escalator. The store operator offered its condolences and said it is cooperating fully with police. No issues were found with the unit, which was installed for the store’s opening in March. From 2010 to May 2023, 54 escalator-related incidents — some involving serious injury or death — were reported by municipal authorities to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.