5 Facts: Crane Truck Driver Distracted by Maps Crashes into Tendean Footbridge
A pedestrian bridge (JPO) on Jalan Kapten Tendean, South Jakarta, was severely damaged after being struck by a crane truck in the early hours of Tuesday (14/7/2026). The impact left the bridge tilted and its pillars lifted from the ground, forcing a complete road closure and triggering massive traffic congestion across the city.
The truck driver, identified as 28-year-old Andre, admitted he was distracted by a navigation app on his mobile phone while driving. He stated he was unaware of the height restrictions on Jalan Tendean, a route he was using for the first time to transport a bore pile machine from Bogor to the Attorney General’s Office.
A witness, Agung (48), who owns a food stall near the site, reported that the truck was travelling at high speed before the collision. “The vehicle was going fast. Usually, heavy equipment vehicles move slowly, but this one was speeding. It was a very loud crash,” he said.
The incident caused gridlock across South Jakarta from Tuesday morning into the evening. Traffic backed up along Jalan Senopati, Jalan Gunawarman, and Jalan Jenderal Sudirman as authorities closed Jalan Kapten Tendean for the emergency dismantling of the damaged bridge. By 7 PM, the Traffic Management Centre of Polda Metro Jaya reported that the road remained impassable due to the ongoing removal of the bridge structure.
The DKI Jakarta Highways Department (Dinas Bina Marga) confirmed the bridge will be rebuilt. However, the timeline remains uncertain pending the completion of a technical review and planning process. The department estimated the material losses from the damage to public assets at billions of rupiah, in addition to the social costs of disrupted public mobility.
The truck driver has been detained by authorities and will be processed according to applicable laws. The department also urged drivers of large vehicles and heavy equipment transporters to adhere to height restrictions and traffic signs to prevent similar incidents.