Car plunges into river, six people die

ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post/Surabaya

Six people were killed and six others severely injured late on Thursday night when their Isuzu Bison van plunged into a river in Gunung Malang, Situbondo, East Java.

The accident occurred as the van headed south to Besuki from Bondowoso city in the province.

On Jl. Gunung Malang, the driver of the van, Rudy, attempted to overtake another car, when a truck appeared from the opposite direction.

Rudy turned the steering wheel sharply to the right to avoid a head-on collision. The van veered out of control and hit a mango tree by the edge of the road, before plunging into Gunung Malang River.

"Two people, who were sitting up front with the driver, died instantly," Situbondo Police traffic division chief Deputy First Insp. Sugiyono, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The two were among six passengers who died in the accident.

Six others, including the driver, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.