20 killed in West Java highway during Idul Fitri

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java

At least 20 people were killed and 45 seriously injured in car accidents during the Idul Fitri holiday along the coastal road in Indramayu, Majalengka, Kuningan, and Cirebon regencies in West Java.

Data provided by the Cirebon Police precinct showed that there were 26 traffic accidents 10 days before the Idul Fitri celebration and seven days after the post-fasting festivity along West Java's pantura, the coastal road that extends from West Java to Central Java.

At least 14 vehicular accidents took place in Indramayu, seven in Cirebon, and five in Majalengka.

Cirebon Police chief Sr. Comr. Sunaryono said on Monday that at least 20 people were killed, 45 seriously injured, and another 31 received light injuries in the accidents.

"Majalengka has the most fatalities with nine people, followed by Cirebon with six, Indramayu four and Cirebon one, while total material losses are estimated to reach Rp 45 million," said Sunaryono.

The figure, according to Sunaryono, is lower than that of 2001 when there were 41 traffic accidents that killed 35 people, seriously injured 36, and caused light injuries to another 40, with total material losses estimated at Rp 5.5 million.

Toll road operator PT Jasa Marga said on Monday that 21 car accidents took place along the 27-kilometer Palimanan-Kanci toll road, killing four persons and seriously injuring 15 others.

According to Suprapto, head of security and service for the Palimanan-Kanci toll road, 18 car accidents or 85.7 percent of total toll road accidents were due to flat tires and mechanical problems, or because the driver was sleepy.

"Flat tires top the list of causes of traffic accidents with eight," said Suproapto, appealing to travelers to check their tires before entering any toll road.

Data from Cirebon's Harjamukti bus terminal showed that this year's Idul Fitri exodus peaked five days before the Idul Fitri holiday with 60,559 passengers, after which the number of travelers passing through the town's terminal reduced to an average of between 10,000 and 45,000 per day.