Crash on Cikampek toll road claims another victim

JAKARTA (JP): One of the eight survivors of Thursday's accident on the Cikampek turnpike died yesterday in the hospital in Karawang, West Java, bringing the death toll to nine passengers.

Rahmat, a relative of the victims, said Asnari, 37, died of burns in the Karya Husada hospital at about 9 a.m. His wife, Alia, perished with seven other passengers when their van burst into flames.

A crowd of at least 1,000 people flocked to the Al Munawar mosque in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, where five ambulances arrived at 3 p.m. with the nine bodies.

Hundreds joined in special prayers for the dead while others comforted grieving relatives. The eldest daughter of the late Noni, who had rented the 12-seat, L 300 Mitsubishi van to attend her son's wedding, collapsed.

Another relative said that the wedding, scheduled for Thursday evening, was likely to be postponed. Noni's husband, who had left earlier for Kuningan, immediately returned, apparently when he first heard of the accident.

The 16-passenger group had left Jakarta for Kuningan from the Mosque on Thursday morning.

"The remaining seven survivors are still in a critical condition," Rahmat said, quoting a doctor at the hospital.

The dead, including a two-year-old child, were buried at the Tegal Parang cemetery nearby.

A broken drive shaft which scraped against the asphalt is believed to have caused sparks which ignited the fuel tank of the van.

Rahmat said that the two survivors, Aisyah, 56, and Irmawati, 10, had been moved to Harapan Bunda, in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta, which was closer to relatives than was the Krawang hospital. Irmawati lost her mother in the accident.

The eight deceased, Alia, Noni, Sarmada, Nani, Mirna, Alia, Irna, Arie and Nashari, were trapped in the van while the driver, Nurhadi, who survived, only managed to save two others.

The accident happened on kilometer 61.4 of the toll road. Patrol officers said the road condition and weather was good.

The remaining seven survivors are now Nurhadi, Aisyah, Irmawati, Reza, Yahya, M. Rais and Casnadi.

Before the accident, Rahmat cited an incident which he interpreted as a premonition. He said that a relative had asked Noni why she had put yellow flags in the wedding cake which they where to bring to Kuningan. In Jakarta, a yellow paper flag signals that someone nearby has died.

"Because there are many Golkar party followers in Kuningan," Noni answered in jest, as quoted by Rahmat.

Another relative, Ilyas, said that two wedding cakes which were made by Sarmada were burnt on Thursday. "Sarmada made other cakes," he said. (jun)