Deadly Winter Pileup: One Dead, Dozens Injured in 50+ Vehicle Crash on Japan's Kan-Etsu Expressway

On the night of December 26, 2025, a massive multi-vehicle pileup involving 50 to 56 vehicles, including trucks, occurred on the southbound lanes of the Kan-Etsu Expressway in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture. One 77-year-old woman in a passenger car died in the accident, and at least 26 others sustained serious or minor injuries. The scene was reportedly covered in accumulated snow with frozen road surfaces, highlighting the dangers of winter driving on expressways.

The accident began late on the night of the 26th with a 110-call reporting 'an accident involving a large truck and another truck.' According to multiple sources, two trucks skidded on the snow and collided, triggering a catastrophic chain reaction that engulfed successive vehicles. Aerial footage from the accident scene shows many vehicles heavily damaged, some engulfed in flames, or completely destroyed. The incident, occurring during the year-end and New Year's holiday rush, has sent shockwaves due to the large number of people involved.

Following the accident, sections of the Kan-Etsu Expressway in both directions were closed for extended periods, significantly impacting traffic. Experts have reiterated the critical importance of exercising extreme caution when driving on icy roads, reducing speed, and maintaining ample following distance. Particularly in snowy regions or sections where freezing is anticipated, equipping vehicles with winter tires is indispensable, and the judgment to refrain from driving in adverse weather conditions is also advised.

Furthermore, on the same day, an 84-year-old woman was fatally struck by a passenger car on a prefectural road in Nakaaoki 5-chome, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture. A 21-year-old male company employee has been arrested, making the enhancement of national traffic safety awareness an urgent issue.

The context

The Kan-Etsu Expressway is a major highway in Japan connecting Tokyo with Niigata Prefecture, traversing mountainous areas prone to heavy snowfall during winter months, such as Minakami Town in Gunma Prefecture where this incident occurred. The accident took place during the critical year-end and New Year's holiday period, a time when millions of Japanese citizens travel across the country to visit family, leading to significant traffic congestion. The incident underscores the inherent dangers of driving on Japanese expressways during winter, where sudden weather changes, black ice, and heavy snowfall can rapidly turn road conditions treacherous. Japanese authorities and automotive experts consistently emphasize the need for winter-specific tires (studless tires) and extreme caution when driving in such conditions.