Cianjur Police Investigate Fatal Pile-up in Ciloto Puncak, Four Dead
The Cianjur Resort Police in West Java are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of a pile-up on the Puncak-Cipanas route in Ciloto Village, Cipanas District. The fatal incident, which occurred on Friday evening (21/8), resulted in the deaths of four people.
Inspector Two Ahmad Prio Gunawan, Head of the Traffic Law Enforcement Unit at Cianjur Police, explained that the accident involved five vehicles: one box truck, two minibuses (a Suzuki Ertiga and a Toyota Avanza), and two motorcycles.
Based on initial crime scene processing, the traffic accident is suspected to have been triggered by a Jakarta-registered box truck travelling from Puncak towards Cipanas. Upon entering a steep downhill section in the Ciloto area, the truck allegedly suffered brake failure, lost control and struck four vehicles coming from the opposite direction.
‘We, together with joint officers, are still investigating to uncover the exact cause of the accident. The preliminary suspicion is that the truck experienced brake failure when entering a steep descent,’ said Ahmad Prio in Cianjur on Saturday (22/8).
The accident resulted in a total of 12 victims. Two people were reported dead at the scene after being trapped in the badly damaged vehicles. Meanwhile, two other victims were pronounced dead while receiving medical treatment at Cimacan Regional General Hospital on Saturday morning.
To date, the fatalities comprise three residents of Lampung and one resident of Cianjur. In addition to the deaths, eight other people are still receiving intensive care at Cimacan Regional General Hospital for serious and minor injuries.
The incident caused lengthy traffic congestion on the Puncak-Cianjur route on Friday evening while the evacuation of vehicles and victims was underway. Police officers are continuing to gather statements from a number of eyewitnesses, including local residents and motorists who were at the scene, to establish the complete chronology of the tragic event.
Police have urged motorists, especially drivers of heavy goods vehicles, to always ensure that their brakes and engines are in proper working order before travelling along the Puncak route, which features many steep descents and dangerous bends.