Train drags, severely hurts blind storyteller

OSAKA (Kyodo) A blind "rakugo" comic storyteller was critically injured when he was hit and dragged by a train at Mikuni Station on the Hankyu Line in Osaka, police said Tuesday.

No clearance: Station workers examine the platform at Mikuni Station in Osaka on Tuesday. KYODO PHOTO

Toru Niwa, 51, was listed in critical condition. He is better known by his stage name, Shofukutei Hakkaku.

Police believe Niwa was dragged 15 meters Monday after his legs got sandwiched between the train and the platform. Neither the 31-year-old motorman nor the 28-year-old conductor noticed Niwa was stuck when the train started to move, Hankyu Corp. said.

According to the police and Hankyu, Niwa was tottering on the platform near the front car after he got off the train.