5 injured as construction vehicle plows into pedestrians in Japan's Osaka Prefecture

TOKYO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Five people were injured when a construction vehicle plowed into pedestrians on a sidewalk in Japan's Osaka Prefecture on Thursday, local rescue officials said.

Two 11 year-old girls, one boy and two women in their 40s were injured in the incident, the Osaka municipal fire department said.

Of the five, one girl is in a critical condition and remains unconscious.

Local media reported the girl is feared dead.

The driver of the construction vehicle, used to excavate ground, was arrested by police.

The Osaka Prefectural Office of Education said the three children attended an elementary school in the area for students with hearing impairments and the two women were teachers there.

Public broadcaster NHK quoted a local man as saying he heard a loud "bang" from inside his house near the accident spot in Osaka's Ikuno Ward.

He said when he rushed outside he saw "people lying on the ground near a construction site."

Around 133 children and students are enrolled in the Ikuno School in Osaka, which caters to children with disabilities including those with hearing impairments.

Most of the children commute to the school in the northern part of Osaka by public transport as the school has no bus service. Enditem