TOKYO — A minivan ran through an intersection today and struck pedestrians in a tourist-packed area of Kyoto, killing eight people including the vehicle’s driver, and injuring another eight.

The crash happened in the western Japanese city’s main geisha district, packed with tourists and cherry blossom viewers.

Rescue officials and witnesses said the minivan went through a traffic light and entered a main intersection in the Gion district, knocking over pedestrians and smashing into a pole before stopping.

The 30-year-old driver and seven pedestrians died, Kyoto prefectural police spokesman Akira Koga said. Eight other people were injured, including several in serious condition.

The van did not have any passengers, Koga said.

Kyodo news agency said many of the dead and injured were Japanese visitors to the city.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.