Eight people died and nine more were hurt after a driver in the Japanese city of Kyoto ploughed into pedestrians before smashing into a power pole, Mainichi Japan reported. Officials said the driver was among the dead. The incident occurred at lunchtime in an area crowded with tourists and cherry blossom viewers.
Police officers inspect a minivan which crashed into a telephone pole after hitting a crowd of pedestrians in Japan's temple-spotted ancient capital of Kyoto, western Japan, on April 12, 2012.
People's belongings are scattered after the incident.
Medical personnel tend to the injured.