Locals take revenge on accident prone bus company

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Locals were aggravated to an act of violence here on Sunday afternoon, when they burned a Sinar Jaya bus after it struck and killed a 17-year-old student.

The victim was identified as Salman, a student of Muhhamadiyah High School at Paguyangan village in Bumiayu of Brebes regency.

Coincidentally, this is the third incident of this kind in the area, involving the same bus company in less than a fortnight.

"The accident took place at approximately 4:45 p.m. The boy was riding a motorcycle when the speeding bus hit him very hard. He died instantly at the scene," Chotimah, an eyewitness, said.

The bus sped off and abandoned the victim, causing ire among locals who then chased the bus on motorcycles.

According to local police, the residents eventually managed to intercept the bus, 15 minutes after the crash on Jl. Raya Bumiayu, three kilometers south of the scene of the accident.

The passengers were told to get off the bus and had their luggage thrown out before the mob set fire to the vehicle.

Brebes Police Chief Adj. Chief Comr. Heru Setiawan said the bus was heading towards Jakarta.

"Officers were quick to save the bus driver from the angry mob and he is currently being detained at Brebes Police Precinct," Heru said.

As a result of the incident, massive traffic congestion occurred in the area with roads to and from Jakarta becoming blocked.

"We had to close the roads to avoid a wider dispute," he said. As of 8 p.m. on Sunday traffic congestion was still reported, despite the fact that some routes had been reopened.(45/edt)