THE FAMILY of a Cork man killed in a suspected hit-and-run incident in Japan have said they are grieving for their loved one and called for privacy.
Alan Buckley from Wilton in Cork city, who taught English to students in the Tomioka region of Japan, was struck by a truck over the weekend. His body was found early on Sunday morning lying on a roadway.
A spokesman said yesterday the family was grieving and called for privacy at this time. “We are liaising with officials in the Department of foreign affairs in conjunction with the police,” the spokesman said.
According to Japanese media reports, police received a call to alert them to the presence of Mr Buckley’s body on the roadway early on Sunday morning. He was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Mr Buckley arrived in Japan in 2009 and had been teaching English at two primary schools and one secondary school under the Japan exchange and teaching programme since July last year.
A work colleague said Mr Buckley was a popular teacher who was in the process of learning to read and write Japanese.
On Sunday evening, a 63-year- old truck driver was arrested on suspicion of driving away from the incident. Japanese news reports claimed the suspect admitted to the allegation and told police he fled because he was scared.