Fatal Crash in Sibolangit: Truck Driver Arrested After Four Killed
Police have arrested the driver of a Fuso truck carrying gallons of mineral water that collided with eight vehicles in Sibolangit District, Deliserdang Regency, North Sumatra, on Friday (17/7). The incident resulted in four fatalities and eight injuries.
Medan Police Traffic Chief, AKBP Sri Lestari Widodo, confirmed that the driver, identified as Ilham (50), has been detained at the Pancur Batu Police Station for questioning. “It is true, one suspected perpetrator has been secured at the Pancur Batu Police Station. Officers are currently investigating the accident,” she said on Friday (17/7).
She stated that the accident occurred at around 10:30 WIB on Jalan Jamin Ginting Km. 44-45, in Suka Makmur Village, Sibolangit District, Deliserdang Regency, North Sumatra, precisely in front of the Garuda Grand Hill Restaurant. The incident began when the Fuso truck, driven by Ilham and travelling from Karo towards Medan, allegedly suffered brake failure while passing through the area.
The truck subsequently lost control and collided with eight vehicles in front of it. The chain-reaction collision was unavoidable, causing severe damage to the eight vehicles and resulting in casualties. “The Fuso truck hit two cool diesel trucks, five minibuses, and one motorcycle. As a result of the incident, four people died and eight others were injured. All victims have been evacuated to nearby hospitals and health centres,” she explained.
The four deceased victims were identified as Heppi Sitinjak (60), Dinaria Manik (60), Samsir Sitinjak (30), and Anton Simorangkir. Meanwhile, eight people were injured, including Siti Mawan (61) and Pebrianto Siburian (31), who were taken to a local health centre. Six other injured victims were referred to H. Adam Malik General Hospital in Medan, including Rafika Lince (41), Harta Ulina (50), Seventri Amandasari Manihuruk (27), Five Sitinjak (11), Gabe Roida Sitinjak (18), and Rinto Sitinjak (23).
“Police officers who arrived at the scene immediately evacuated the victims, managed the traffic flow, and secured the vehicles involved in the accident. The process of data collection and investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident is still ongoing,” she stated. The incident caused a total traffic jam as the wrecked vehicles blocked the road. The vehicles hit by the Fuso truck were mangled and heavily damaged. “All vehicles have been successfully evacuated to the sides of the road. Currently, two-way traffic from Medan and Tanah Karo is running smoothly again,” she added.
Separately, the Legal and Public Relations Manager of H. Adam Malik General Hospital, Rosario Dorothy Simanjuntak, said that six injured victims had been evacuated to the hospital, which is under the Ministry of Health. “There are six people in total, consisting of four women and two men. One of them is a child,” she said. Rosa stated that five of the victims suffered fractures to their hands and feet, as well as abrasions all over their bodies, while the child patient sustained a severe head injury with bleeding. “In addition to the injured victims, the police also brought a deceased victim to H. Adam Malik General Hospital, a 38-year-old male resident of Sibolangit. Police officers and Jasaraharja representatives have come in turns and we have assisted them in taking statements from the victims,” she said.