US military troops in Japan banned from drinking after crash

Nicholas James McLean, 21, was suspected of negligent driving resulting in the injury or death and driving under the influence of alcohol

(Photo: Stars and Stripes)
(Photo: Stars and Stripes)

US military personnel in Okinawa have been restricted to base and banned from drinking alcohol after a marine was arrested after a crash that resulted in the death of a Japanese man.

Police authorities on the southern Japanese island arrested Nicholas James-McLean, 21, late on Sunday on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in the injury or death and driving under the influence of alcohol, said Kazuhiko Miyagi of the Okinawa police.

A breath test indicated that McLean’s alcohol level was three times the legal limit, said Miyagi.

The marine was slightly injured, he added.

Hidemasa Taira, 61, who was driving a small truck, died in the crash on Sunday morning in Naha, a city in Okinawa.

He was making a turn when his vehicle was hit by McLean’s truck, which was coming from the opposite direction, according to Japanese media.

Reports cited witnesses as saying that the Japanese Taira had right of way when the crash took place and the marine may have driven through a red light, though this has not been confirmed.

The US base in Okinawa houses tens of thousands of troops (Photo: BBC)
The US base in Okinawa houses tens of thousands of troops (Photo: BBC)

The incident may fuel opposition to the US military presence in the Japanese town, where about 25,000 American troops are stationed and where local residents have expressed concerns in the past, regarding military crime and crowding on the island.

According to the US military, “alcohol may have been a factor” in the crash.

Regardless, the buying and drinking of alcohol was immediately banned for US military personnel all over Japan and were restricted to base and their residences, until further notice.

The US military said that commanders across Japan will immediately lead mandatory training on responsible alcohol use and behaviour.

“When our service members fail to live up to the high standards we set for them, it damages the bonds between bases and local communities and makes it harder for us to accomplish our mission”, US Forces, Japan, said in a statement posted on its website.