Accident toll up to five

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The number of deaths resulting from the Sri Kertabumi bus accident on Jl. Daan Mogot, Batu Ceper district, Tangerang, increased from three to five on Friday.

The two latest victims, Misrah, 50, a resident of Keragilan district, Serang, Banten, and Maspandu, the bus conductor, died in Tangerang General Hospital late on Thursday.

The bus, which was carrying some 50 passengers from Merak, Banten, to Kalideres bus terminal, West Jakarta, plunged some eight meters into the Mookervart river after careering of a bridge on Thursday. Three passengers -- Emma, Ajun and Misna -- died instantly.

Some 33 other passengers who suffered injuries were rushed to the Tangerang General Hospital. But as of Friday morning, only eight victims were still being treated in the hospital.

Tangerang Police deputy chief Comr. Gde. Sugianyar said the bus driver, Makmun bin Sarim, 50, a resident of Bakung village, Jayanti district, Tangerang regency, was still at large.

"After the accident, the driver, who reportedly broke one of his ribs, immediately went home along with his son, who was sitting beside him when the bus plunged into the river. He left his son, who was also injured, at home and told his wife that he would go to his parents' house in Serang," Sugianyar told The Jakarta post.

He said the police were still searching for the driver. "We've looked for him at his parents' house in Serang and at several traditional bone setters around the city, but we didn't find him," he said.

Sugianyar added that as of Friday, police still had no clear picture as to what had caused the accident because several of the witnesses who had been questioned gave different versions of the accident.

According to one version, the driver was driving the bus at high speed, and the accident occurred as he tried to avoid a motorcycle.