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)