Overview

• Tsu District Court convicted 35-year-old Rossi Cruz John Elias of dangerous driving causing injury and Road Traffic Act offenses and imposed a 1 year 6 month prison term, below the 3 years sought by prosecutors.
• The case stems from wrong‑way driving on the Shin‑Meishin Expressway near Kameyama that triggered a chain collision and injured six people.
• Judge Ryō Yukawa said the defendant began the wrong‑way driving out of fear his drinking would be exposed and condemned the decision as selfish and highly dangerous.
• Court records and operator imagery, including surveillance footage and a NEXCO Central Japan photo, corroborated the wrong‑way travel.
• The court noted his apology, compensation for property damage, and voluntary surrender to police, yet ruled incarceration necessary for accountability and deterrence.