Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma under police investigation following traffic accident in Tokyo
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has launched an official investigation into Brighton and Hove Albion forward Kaoru Mitoma following a traffic accident in the Itabashi district. The international football star is facing scrutiny over alleged driving negligence after striking a 48-year-old cyclist at a busy metropolitan intersection. The high-profile incident occurred during the Premier League winger’s return to his native country, immediately drawing significant media attention across Japan and the United Kingdom.
According to preliminary statements released by local law enforcement authorities, the accident took place when Mitoma inadvertently failed to stop at a red light. Investigators revealed that the footballer misread the traffic signaling system, mistakenly confusing the vehicular green light with the adjacent pedestrian signal. This operational error caused his vehicle to enter the active intersection just as the victim was crossing the designated pedestrian pathway on her bicycle, leading to an immediate collision.
Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the scene to evaluate the victim following the impact. Medical reports later confirmed that the 48-year-old woman sustained relatively minor injuries during the crash, with physicians estimating a total recovery period of approximately two weeks. Mitoma emerged from the vehicle entirely uninjured and remained at the location to cooperate immediately with the arriving police units, providing a full statement to assist with the structural timeline of the accident.
Following the initial police interrogation, Mitoma’s management agency issued an official public statement addressing the traffic violation. The representative firm offered a sincere public apology to the victim and her family, stating that the player deeply regrets the oversight. Furthermore, the agency confirmed that the Brighton attacker is assuming full legal and financial responsibility for the incident and remains committed to cooperating completely with the ongoing judicial review before he is cleared to return to his professional duties in England.
While regional legal experts note that minor traffic infractions involving cooperation rarely result in severe criminal prosecution, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police will complete a thorough background check into the exact mechanics of the collision. Representatives from Brighton have been notified of the ongoing administrative inquiry but have deferred all official communication to the player’s legal team. Mitoma will remain available to Japanese authorities as they finalize the official report on the driving negligence allegations.
