Mob attacks Metrominis after traffic accident

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of people attacked three Metromini buses near the Senen Inpres market in Central Jakarta, after one of the minibuses crushed a woman to death on Monday morning.

The rough street justice, which has become more frequent in the capital during the past year, left the three minibuses severely damaged.

Rocks and wooden sticks were used by the crowd to shatter the windows of the minibuses, drivers of which are notorious for their reckless speeding.

The people's anger was sparked after witnessing a Metromini with the number P-03 plying the Senen-Rawamangun route attempting to overtake another minibus on a similar route. The minibus hit a young woman, later identified as Elijah, 20, at the entrance to the crowded Senen Inpres market at about 7:30 a.m.

Elijah, who worked as a maid, was with her two employers, Wisma and his wife Titin, to buy foodstuffs at the market.

Wisma said Elijah, who was about to disembark from the minibus' front door, lost her balance and fell onto the road.

"The minibus was moving slowly on the right side of the street when at the same time another P-03 Metromini passed from the left side of the minibus at high speed in a bid to overtake their bus," he said.

The minibus driver speeding from behind failed to control his vehicle and immediately crushed Elijah.

The right-rear wheel of the bus smashed Elijah's head causing instant death, Wisma said at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

The accident quickly attracted hundreds of onlookers and market traders to the scene, with many stoning the minibuses.

"The drivers and conductors of the two minibuses fled the scene," Wisma said.

According to a witness, Ade, the group also stopped another metromini P-03, which approached the nearby Senen bus terminal a few minutes later.

The deceased, who had begun working for Titin only two weeks ago, was the eighth of nine children from a family from Depok, south of here. The father, Husen, was in shock after hearing of the death of his daughter.

Sgt. Maj. Djani of the Senen Police subprecinct said police were investigating the case. (asa/04)