Four killed in head-on minibus collision

Four killed in head-on minibus collision

JAKARTA (JP): Four people were killed and 16 others injured in
a head-on collision yesterday between Kowanbisata and Miniarta
minibuses on Jl. Margonda Raya in Depok, to the south of here, a
police officer said.

Depok police chief Lt. Col. Fajar Prihantoro told the media
that the four victims were the Kowanbisata driver, identified as
Jastinur, 36, and three passengers -- Nunik Handayani, 19, Ade
Patar, 24, and Suliro, 66.

"Jastinur, Nunik and Ade died instantly, while Suliro died on
the way to the hospital. Their bodies were taken to PMI Hospital
in Bogor," Fajar said.

The 16 injured people, including Hasonangan Lubis, 30, the
driver of the Miniarta minibus who suffered a broken leg, were
treated at Bhakti Yudha Hospital in Depok.

Fajar said the other 15 injured passengers were Istaningsih,
28; Sahaya Tarigan, 33; Dasmun, 32; Engkus Haerudin, 24; Rustian,
30; Sukron, 28; Tuti Restu Ananda, 18; Novi Hasanah, 18; Rubiyem,
33; Puji, 23; Marulan Damanik, 30; Sumardi, 28; Amijal, 25;
Ka'asma, 28; and Nuraini, 24.

The fatal crash occurred at about 5:15 a.m. when the packed
Miniarta minibus plying the Depok-Pasar Minggu route tried to
overtake a car.

"Unfortunately the packed Kowanbisata minibus was speeding
down the Pulogadung-Depok route in the opposite direction.

"The Miniarta failed to get back over to its own side of the
road and collided with the oncoming minibus," Fajar said.

He added that a number of survivors had complained that the
Kowanbinsata driver was sleepy and was driving recklessly.

"One of the passengers had already asked him (to slow down),
but he ignored him," Fajar said.

Police said they would question Hasonangan, who was driving
the other minibus, after he had recovered from his injuries.

The victims were mostly students and employees on their way to
work.

Meanwhile, another road traffic accident took place in
Serpong, Tangerang, on Tuesday night, when a truck transporting
sand hit a bridge wall and plunged into a ravine, killing two
people.

The dead were the truck driver, Tatang Ariesta, 36, from
Kampung Cirata in the Cipeundery district of Bandung, and his
assistant, Jejen, 30, who came from Kampung Cibatok in
Cibungbulang district, Bogor.

A witness called Rajab said Tatang appeared to lose control of
the vehicle after driving on to the bridge at about 11.30 p.m.

The two men died instantly and their bodies were taken to
Tangerang General Hospital by local residents.

A police officer who asked for anonymity said Tatang might
have lost control after being distracted by the high concrete
median on the bridge.

Several traffic accidents have already taken place on the
bridge, but Tuesday's was the first involving fatalities. The
officer added that a tanker got stuck on the median last month.

"We might need to put up a traffic sign reminding drivers
heading for the bridge," he said. (edt/41)