CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa – A civilian contractor working on Okinawa was arrested Sunday morning after a deadly collision with a motorcyclist on the southern island prefecture.



Nicholas Christenson, 38, was charged with negligent driving resulting in death or injury after colliding with a motorcycle driven by Isao Toriumi, 39, of Urasoe, at approximately 8 a.m., according to an Okinawa Police spokesman who spoke on a customary condition of anonymity.



Christenson was heading south on Route 58 when he took a right-hand turn toward the seawall at the Sunabe intersection near Kadena Air Base’s Gate 1, the spokesman said. He attempted to cut across the lane of Toriumi, who was heading north on Route 58.



Toriumi was thrown into a convenience store parking lot, where he struck a parked taxi, the spokesman said.



Japanese police told Stars and Stripes that Christenson told officers he was employed at Kadena; however, the Air Force later said he works for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service at Camp Hansen, a Marine base.



The case will be referred to Okinawa prosecutors Monday, the spokesman said. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor.



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