The Body of Truck Driver Recovered Three Months After His Vehicle Fell into a Sinkhole

A vehicle, top right, carrying a body, believed to be that of the driver found during a search inside the sewer pipe, leaves the scene of the road collapse accident on a street, Friday May 2, 2025 in in Yashio, northeast of Tokyo.

The body of a 74-year-old truck driver was recovered on Friday, three months after his vehicle plunged into a sinkhole in Yashio City, just northeast of Tokyo. The tragic incident occurred in January when the 3-ton truck was swallowed by a massive sinkhole that suddenly opened beneath the road while the driver was in transit.

Initial rescue efforts shortly after the incident were hampered by the dangerous conditions underground. During an early attempt to recover the vehicle, rescue crews were able to lift only the flatbed section of the truck, leaving the driver trapped inside the submerged cabin. Authorities believed at the time that the driver’s body had been swept approximately 30 meters downstream from the original location.

Following three months of intensive planning and construction, authorities built a secure underground pathway to access the suspected location of the driver’s remains. On Friday, rescue workers wearing protective helmets and hazmat suits successfully entered the site and recovered the body.

A vehicle carrying a body, believed to be that of the driver found during a search inside the sewer pipe, leaves the scene of the road collapse accident on a street, Friday May 2, 2025 in in Yashio, northeast of Tokyo.

Investigations into the cause of the sinkhole revealed that it was the result of corrosion in aging sewer pipes. The compromised underground infrastructure created an unstable surface, with a void forming beneath the road. The dangerous conditions delayed recovery efforts and prompted city officials to request that local residents reduce water usage to limit sewage flow through the affected area.

The incident has sparked renewed concerns over Japan’s aging public infrastructure. Much of the country’s sewage systems and roadways were constructed during the post-war economic boom of the 1960s and 1970s and are now showing signs of deterioration. According to the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry, over 10,500 sinkholes have been reported across Japan, with many linked to sewage-related structural failures in urban regions.

Yashio Mayor Shinobu Oyama issued a public statement following the recovery, expressing his condolences to the victim’s family and offering prayers for the deceased. He also vowed to accelerate the reconstruction of the damaged road and improve infrastructure safety moving forward.