Minibus burns on toll road

Minibus burns on toll road

JAKARTA (JP): An illegal intercity minibus carrying 11
passengers from Cilacap, Central Java, to Lampung, Sumatra,
caught fire while traveling on the Cawang-Semanggi toll road here
on Saturday morning.

The fire, believed to have been caused by sparks from a
malfunctioning part, killed a 60-year-old woman, identified as
Sarwidi, and seriously wounded four other passengers.

The driver of the minibus, identified as Pendi, 21, and his
codriver, Bogel, 17, fled the scene. Both of them are still at
large.

The four victims who suffered serious burns were identified as
Sinem, 60; Warsito, 40; Mukri, 47; and Sahrudin, 40.

The victims, currently being treated at UKI Hospital in
Cawang, East Jakarta, said the incident occurred at about 3:30
a.m. on Saturday. They said the fire spread quickly a few seconds
after an explosion was heard.

"I managed to escape the fire through the window. I saw the
others were forced to escape the vehicle through the flames,"
Warsito said.

He said none of the passengers were able to rescue the elderly
woman because the fire spread too quickly.

Each of the passengers paid Rp 40,000 (US$4.50) for the trip.

"I had a bad feeling from the beginning because the bus had
already stalled three times," Warsito said. (bsr)