Hit-and-run taxi driver kills school student

JAKARTA (JP): A taxi driver, who tried to flee after allegedly hitting a 14-year-old boy on Jl. Raya Bekasi in East Jakarta, was caught a few hours later by a motorist who gave chase.

The unidentified taxi driver managed to escape because bystanders were busy helping the victim -- identified as Koko Sulistyo -- a student of state junior high school SMPN 90, Hardiman, one of the victim's teachers, said.

"We didn't notice the characteristics of the taxi... let alone take down its license plate because we were concentrating on how to save the victim," he said.

But one motorist chased after the speeding taxi and managed to attract the attention of patrol police, who helped capture the taxi driver after a long chase, he said.

The suspect has been detained at Pulo Gadung Police subprecinct for questioning.

Hardiman said he deplored the taxi driver's thoughtlessness when he drove the vehicle at high speed along a crowded street, where school students were waiting for buses.

The student, Koko, was on his way home from school and crossing the street when the taxi stuck him and dragged him about six meters, Hardiman said.

Koko, a resident of Waru Doyong in Bekasi, died instantly from severe wounds to his head and left side of his body.

Officers of Pulogadung Police subprecinct took the third year student's body to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta for a postmortem examination.

"Jl. Bekasi Raya is a very, very dangerous street as big cars and trucks pass through the area around-the-clock," he said.

"Koko was the second student of SMPN 90 to be killed in a traffic accident in front of our school. Two months ago, Dwi Muryanto was also struck and killed by a speeding truck."

In a separate incident, a 35-year-old passenger on a bicycle taxi died after being hit by a car on Jl. Pluit Selatan in North Jakarta yesterday.

The victim, Rasman, a resident of Jl. Tanah Pasir, Penjaringan in North Jakarta, suffered severe head and leg wounds, while the bicycle rider was in a critical condition, a police officer said, adding that the motorist fled.

Second Lt. Sudjianto said: "A passerby found them lying on the street and then called Pluit Police subprecinct for help."

Rasman, a father of three children, died at the scene while the bicycle rider was rushed to Atmajaya General Hospital in Pluit for medical treatment.

Rasman worked as a security guard in the fish auction center in Muara Karang, A. Mali, the victim's friend, said. (04)