ALS Bus and Tanker Truck Directors Named Suspects in South Sumatra Fatal Crash

Police have named two suspects in the investigation into the fatal accident involving an Antar Lintas Sumatera (ALS) bus and a fuel tanker truck in Musi Rawas Utara, South Sumatra. The crash, which occurred in May, claimed the lives of 19 people. Muratara Deputy Police Chief Commissioner Ermi stated that the suspects are the director of the trucking company PT SBP, Shandi Hermanto, and the director of PT ALS, Chandra Lubis. Shandi Hermanto is charged under Article 277 of Law Number 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transport, in conjunction with Article 474 of the National Criminal Code and Article 315 of the Traffic Law, concerning alleged negligence and corporate liability. Chandra Lubis has been charged under Article 474 of the National Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 315 of Law Number 22 of 2009. Investigators are attempting to examine both suspects, but neither has yet complied with police summonses. Shandi has been summoned twice without appearing, and a third summons will be issued persuasively; if ignored, police will resort to a forced pick-up. Chandra’s first summons was issued today, Wednesday (5/8). Ermi emphasised that the investigation is ongoing, with the team having travelled to Medan and various areas in Java over the past two months to collect evidence and witness statements. A total of 47 witnesses have been examined, including eyewitnesses at the scene, officials from the National Road Implementation Centre as the road operator, criminal law experts from Sriwijaya University, transport officials from the Directorate General of Land Transportation in Jakarta, oil and gas officials from Jakarta, representatives from the South Sumatra Provincial Industry and Trade Office, the South Sumatra Provincial Manpower Office, and vehicle design experts from Karawang and Cirebon regarding the tanker’s construction. The deadly accident occurred on the Trans-Sumatra Highway at Simpang Danau, Karang Jaya Village, Muratara, South Sumatra, on Wednesday (6/5) around noon. According to the investigation, the ALS bus travelling from Lubuklinggau towards Jambi allegedly swerved to avoid a pothole, veering into the opposite lane and colliding with the oncoming fuel tanker. The impact triggered a massive fire that engulfed both vehicles. Seventeen people died at the scene, and two more victims who were hospitalised later succumbed to severe burns, bringing the total death toll to 19.