[Umezawa drank alcohol at a rest area on an expressway during work around 3 p.m. on June 28, 2021, before driving on a street in Yachimata around 3:30 p.m., where he dozed off and crashed into a group of school children, according to the indictment. (File photo taken on June 28, 2021 by= Kyodo)]

CHIBA: A Japanese court on Friday sentenced a 61-year-old man to 14 years in prison for a drunk-driving accident that left two elementary school children dead and three others severely injured near Tokyo last year, Kyodo reported. The Chiba District Court found Hiroshi Umezawa guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol when he crashed into a group of pupils heading home from school on a street in Yachimata, Chiba Prefecture, in June last year.
 
In the trial, prosecutors condemned Umezawa for what they said was one of Japan's worst-ever cases of drunk driving, demanding 15 years in prison for him. The families of the victims also asked for severe punishment. Umezawa admitted to the charge of dangerous driving resulting in injury or death and apologized to the bereaved families. The defense counsel asked for leniency, saying he is remorseful. Prosecutors pointed out that Umezawa often drove under the influence of alcohol, drinking even while working. Before causing the accident, he drank 220 milliliters of "shochu" distilled liquor he had bought at a convenience store, they said.

Alcohol in excess of the legal limit was detected when he took a breathalyzer test after the accident, police said. Two boys, aged 7 and 8, respectively, were killed in the accident while two other boys and a girl were seriously injured.