Four Dead, Eight Injured in Sibolangit Crash as Truck's Brakes Allegedly Fail

A fatal accident in Sibolangit District, Deliserdang Regency, North Sumatra, resulted in four deaths and eight injuries. The crash is suspected to have occurred after a truck loaded with mineral water gallons experienced brake failure and collided with eight other vehicles. Medan Police Chief Commissioner Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak stated that preliminary investigations indicate the truck, driven by Ilham (50), had faulty brakes. The driver has been detained for questioning. “The initial examination shows the truck’s brakes failed. The truck was travelling from Karo towards Medan. At the scene, the Fuso truck hit two cool diesel trucks, five minibuses and one motorcycle. The driver has been secured at Pancur Batu Police Station and is currently undergoing examination,” he said on Friday (17/7). Separately, Medan Police Traffic Unit Head, AKBP Sri Lestari Widodo, said the accident occurred on Friday (17/7) at around 10.30 WIB on Jalan Jamin Ginting Km 44-45, 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 carrying mineral water gallons was travelling from Karo towards Medan City. At that time, the road conditions were quite congested,” he explained. The truck then lost control and hit eight vehicles in front of it. The multiple collisions were unavoidable, causing severe damage to a number of vehicles and resulting in fatalities. “As a result of the incident, four people died. Eight others were injured. All victims have been evacuated to the nearest hospital and community health centre,” he said. The four victims who died were Heppi Sitinjak (60), Dinaria Manik (60), Samsir Sitinjak (30), and Anton Simorangkir. The eight injured included Siti Mawan (61) and Pebrianto Siburian (31), who were taken to the community health centre. Six other injured individuals 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 arriving at the scene immediately evacuated victims, managed 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,” he stated. The incident caused a total traffic jam as the wrecked vehicles were strewn across the road. The vehicles hit by the Fuso truck were mangled and severely damaged. “All vehicles have been successfully evacuated to the right and left sides of the road. Currently, two-way traffic from Medan and Tanah Karo is flowing smoothly,” he added.