Five dead in Semarang pileup

SEMARANG, Central Java: Five people were killed and another three remain in critical condition after a multiple crash involving eight vehicles yesterday morning.

The pileup involving several cars, a truck, a bus, a taxi, a small minivan and a motorcycle happened at about 8:00 a.m. on Jl. Banyumanik in the southern part of the city.

The cause of the accident is believed to be a truck's faulty breaks. The truck swerved out of control and hit a taxi and then a public transport minivan.

But running into the two vehicles could not stop the runaway truck which then crashed into several more vehicles before skidding and turning over atop a motorcycle and killing its rider.

Col. Soenarko of the Semarang police, said a total of 19 people are currently being treated for injuries as a result of the accident. (har)