Eleven killed in head-on collision

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Tegal

A head-on collision between a truck carrying cement and a bus full of passengers occurred on the highway at Kajen village, Lebaksiu subdistrict in Tegal regency on Wednesday, killing 11 people and injuring 19 others.

Ten of the victims have been identified, while another body remained unidentified as of Wednesday afternoon.

The 19 injured persons were rushed to Dr.Soesilo Hospital in Tegal soon after the collision.

According to eyewitnesses, the bus, with number plate G 2596 AG bound for Tegal from Margasari, was speeding on the highway in Kajen district.

The bus carrying 40 people, including the driver, was trying to overtake two other minivans in an effort to attract more passengers that morning.

"Suddenly a truck carrying cement appeared from the opposite direction so a head-on collision was unavoidable," an eyewitness said.

The truck, which came from Cirebon, was driven by Ade Supriyadi, 28, a Cirebon resident, while the driver of the minibus was still unidentified.

There was no information about whether the bus driver had also been killed in the accident.

Slawi traffic police chief Adj. Comr. Johan Priyoto said on Wednesday that police were still examining the cause of the accident.

According to the police, the 10 victims were identified as Fitri Amelia from Duren Sawit, Martono from Kesuben, Lebaksiu, Tegal, Syarif from Lebaksiu, Arkham from Lebaksiu, Khotimatun Nikmah from Jembangan, Margasari, Abdhori from Lebaksiu, Indriyanti from Margasari, Sukmiyati from Margasari, Marifah from Balapulang, Tegal and Sugrip from Margasari. Another dead body has yet to be identified.