Batang Police: Death toll in pile-up rises to three

The Batang City Police in Central Java have reported that the number of fatalities in a pile-up at KM 379+900 on the Batang-Semarang Toll Road on Wednesday (19/8) has risen to three.

Head of the Batang Police Traffic Unit, AKP Eka Hendra Ardiansyah, said in Batang on Wednesday that all of the deceased were passengers of a Suzuki APV ambulance.

“Three vehicles were involved in the collision, including a spare tyre from a truck that came loose and struck a Toyota Avanza travelling behind the ambulance,” he said.

Giyati (50), a resident of Cengkareng, suffered severe head injuries. The three victims who were taken to Weleri Islamic Hospital in Kendal Regency have now been taken by their families to their respective hometowns.

He said police are still investigating the cause of the pile-up that resulted in three deaths and two serious injuries at KM 379+900 on the Batang-Semarang Toll Road.

The pile-up, involving four vehicles, began when a Suzuki APV ambulance with registration number D-1142-AFZ was travelling from the west (Jakarta) towards the east (Semarang).

Upon arriving at the scene, the ambulance driver is suspected of losing concentration and collided with the rear right side of a Hino truck with registration number BE-8501-PV.

“The ambulance driver is suspected of losing concentration, causing him to hit the truck in front, then swerve to the right and hit an Innova,” he said.

He said the violent impact caused the Hino truck’s spare tyre to come loose and strike the front body of a Toyota Avanza with registration number B-2058-UOR travelling in the same direction behind the ambulance.

“At the time of the accident, the weather was clear, the road was straight and made of good concrete, and traffic flow was observed to be moderate,” he said.