20 killed in West Java highway during Idul Fitri

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.