Fatal truck accident with broken axle in Kupang claims two lives
Two people were killed after a dump truck they were travelling in lost control and overturned on the Takari-Lelogama Road, specifically at Gunung Naitonis, Oh’aem I Village, Amfoang Selatan District, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The truck is believed to have been out of control after the front axle detached while traversing a downhill road.
“Yes, two people died,” Amfoang Selatan Police Chief Inspector Andy Gunawan said when contacted by detikBali, Thursday (21 May 2026).
The fatal incident occurred on Wednesday (20 May). Based on information gathered by detikBali, the single-vehicle crash also left four others injured.
The case handling is now being carried out by Satlantas Polres Kupang.
“More complete data is with Polres Kupang. We from Amfoang Selatan Police Station are only helping to go down to the scene of the case,” Andy said briefly.
Truck travelling from Lelogama to Takari
Kupang Police reveal chronology of the truck overturn on the Takari-Lelogama route. The crash killed two passengers and injured four others.
“Indeed, it resulted in two fatalities and four others injured,” said Polres Kupang public relations head IPDA Lalu Randy Hidayat to detikBali, Thursday (21 May 2026).
Randy said the vehicle with registration DH 8265 BH was travelling from Lelogama towards Takari with seven people on board. The driver was Niko Baitanu (32). The passengers were Defi Banunaek (3), Yoskotim Bait (14), Random Banunaek (8), Aminadap Naat (11), Paulus Tampani (11), and Kelfin Batmalo (11).
“At that time five people were at the rear, while two were at the front, including the driver,” Randy said.
Losing Control on a Downhill Road
When they arrived at the scene, the truck traversed a downhill road. Suddenly the front axle detached, causing the vehicle to lose control, travel at high speed, and become uncontrollable by the driver.
Niko managed to brush the truck’s side against a road barrier to reduce speed and save the passengers. However the impact caused Yoskotim to fall to the right side and be crushed between the barrier and the truck body, dying at the scene.
Passengers Jump
As the situation became increasingly out of control, Niko along with four others attempted to jump out. Unfortunately, that effort left four passengers with lacerations and injuries.
Randy said Random suffered a laceration to the head. Aminadap suffered lacerations and bleeding on the left leg and forehead. Paulus suffered lacerations and bleeding on the knee. Kelfin Batmalo suffered a scrape on the right leg.
Meanwhile, Defi Banunaek, who was sitting beside the driver, fell and became trapped inside the vehicle and died after the truck rolled away.
The incident was reported to police. Shortly after, officers from Amfoang Selatan Police Station and Satlantas Polres Kupang arrived at the scene to carry out on-site investigations.
“We immediately took the victims to Puskesmas Lelogama for medical treatment,” concluded Randy.
(dpw/dpw)