Overview

• A six-month-old girl suffered a skull fracture when her stroller fell inside a mechanical parking facility in Osaka’s Kita Ward around noon on September 9.
• The mother reported that after she parked, the shutter closed, trapping the family inside, the pallet rose about 30 centimeters, began rotating, and struck the stroller, which then dropped into a recess.
• A part-time male attendant in his 60s told investigators he pressed a button while people were inside, according to one report, but later said he does not remember pressing the control, another outlet reported.
• Investigators learned the shutter and pallet are typically operated by outdoor buttons and that motion should be blocked by an in-garage sensor, prompting a review of the system’s safety features.
• Police are also examining compliance with procedures that limit entry to the driver during parking, as they work to determine whether operator error, mechanical failure, or both led to the accident.