
I blame Grand Theft Auto for making it look too easy.
On 12 August, at approximately 9:20 p.m. on the rainy streets of Kiyose, Tokyo, a 54-year-old man was walking. Just as he moved to avoid a puddle he was hit from behind by a light truck, suffering serious injuries that are expected to take 10 weeks to recover from.
The driver of the vehicle, 33-year-old Tomoyuki Saito, immediately drove off after striking the victim. Saito had been bar hopping and drank about 10 highballs prior to the accident. In addition, he had lost his license in a previous DUI seven years ago and was driving a truck with an inspection sticker that expired one year ago.
The windshield on Saito’s truck shattered and the body was noticeably dented from the collision. Also, there were witnesses on the street at the time as well as surveillance cameras. Likely realizing all this, Saito appeared to have made a cunning plan to elude law enforcement: He would paint his truck a different color.
However, as you might imagine, a repeat drunk driver unable to get a license or his vehicle inspected isn’t exactly the most industrious person in the world. And so, by the time police caught up with Saito, his vehicle had gone from a pure white truck to what can be seen in the following report.
Though he admitted to the hit and run, in fairness, Saito did not specifically cop to attempting to fool police by partially painting his vehicle a jaunty papaya orange. The timing of the paint job is highly suspect though, and readers of the news wasted no time in lining up to dunk on how bad it was.
“He can’t even paint. Is there anything he can do properly?”
“I bet his can of spray paint ran out.”
“I think we can all relate to getting bored of something partway through.”
“Maybe he realized how stupid it was halfway in.”
“That doesn’t even work in the newer GTA games.”
“Even with a can of spray paint, that’s a horrible job.”
“Why orange?”
“He’s probably a big 007 fan.”
“He really just made the truck stand out more.”
“So many layers… This is a crime Big Mac.”
It is a staggering number of violations to rack up in one fell swoop, but if there’s one bright orange side to this white truck of crime, it’s that Saito will be too busy paying for his crimes to do much drinking or driving for quite a while. Perhaps the judge will see fit to give him some painting work as community services, so he can brush up his skills in that too.
Source: FNN Online Prime, Hachima Kiko
Top image: Pakutaso
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Japanese company president arrested for making employee take the fall for his hit-and-run
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Akita Kanto Festival, one of Japan’s most spectacular summer festivals, gets an anime twist this year
Aichi city throws year-long 20th birthday bash for giant beckoning cat statue, Hello Kitty invited
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store sandwiches with a wild new choc-mint variety
Final Fantasy plushie shoulder bags are fuzzy and functional [Photos]
Toyota Museum’s international retro vehicle parade returns to Aichi this autumn
U.S. government reportedly planning to close Nagoya consulate
Yoshinoya gets into fancy fish, but is the cheap beef king reaching too far? [Taste test]
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever gacha capsule toys, featuring iconic menu items as plush coffee charms
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
7-Eleven Japan now offering baked-in-store pizza by the slice with two very different topping sets
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】