A mainland Chinese man from Hong Kong and five friends were on a self-drive trip in Japan. Around 9:50 p.m. on the 16th, they were driving the wrong way on the Chuo Expressway in Natsuya, Kiyomi-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, and collided with an oncoming truck. Six people in the car—both men and women—sustained minor injuries, while the truck driver was unharmed.
According to police in Gifu Prefecture, the 57-year-old man and his five friends had rented a car for a self-drive tour in Japan. After finishing their sightseeing in the Hida region and preparing to return home, they drove toward Chubu Centrair International Airport but mistakenly entered the exit lane of the Chuo Expressway due to unfamiliarity with the road.
The Chuo Expressway is a two-way road with only one lane in each direction. The vehicle drove against traffic for about 500 meters before crashing into the truck. This incident led to the closure of both up and down lanes between the Hida-Sanso Interchange and the Hida-Kiyomi Interchange for approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes before reopening.