Minibus with Brake Failure Plunges into River in Bogor, Killing Driver
A fatal crash occurred when an Isuzu Elf minibus plunged into a river in Ciawi, on the route towards Puncak in Bogor. The incident, which was suspected to have been caused by brake failure, killed the 71-year-old driver, identified by the initial S.
The crash happened at 8.20am local time on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, on Jalan Simpang Bendungan in Ciawi, Bogor Regency, West Java.
The road at the scene slopes downhill. The minibus is suspected to have suffered brake failure while travelling down the slope.
Driver dies in crash
Bogor Police Traffic Unit law enforcement chief Ipda Arif Rahman said one person died in the crash: the minibus driver.
“There was one victim, the driver of the Elf-type minibus. The victim suffered serious injuries at the scene and was evacuated to hospital. We have since received the latest information that he has died,” Arif told reporters on Wednesday, 14 October.
Brake failure suspected
Arif said the fatal crash was suspected to have been caused by brake failure, after which the minibus ran into the river.
“[The cause of the crash] was suspected to be a brake malfunction at the scene,” said Arif, the Bogor Police Traffic Unit law enforcement chief, on Wednesday, 14 October 2026.
How the crash happened
The minibus, registration number D-7564-AQ, was travelling from Jalan Pertanian towards the Bendungan junction on the Ciawi-Gadog main road. At the scene, it reportedly suffered brake failure and plunged into the river.
“Before the crash, the red Isuzu Elf microbus, driven by S, was travelling from Jalan Raya Pertanian towards the Bendungan junction. The road was straight and downhill. At the scene, it was suspected to have suffered brake failure,” Arif said.
Arif said the Elf was not carrying passengers at the time. Police are still investigating where the vehicle had come from and where it was headed.
“There was only the driver in the bus. It was not carrying passengers. It was a tourist Elf minibus. We do not yet know where it came from or where it was going because the driver has died,” Arif said.
The minibus reportedly struck a Honda BR-V before plunging into a dry river.
“It then continued straight, struck the front-left body of the Honda BR-V, hit a bridge wall and plunged into the river, resulting in a traffic accident,” Arif said.