Motorcyclist dies in pileup involving presidential guards

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two motorcycles, one van and a presidential guard truck were involved in a pileup on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta on Wednesday morning, killing a man identified as Suwarno, one of the motorcycle drivers.

"We are investigating the case. We have questioned several witnesses, including those involved in the accident," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said.

At around 6:30 a.m. the two motorcycles -- traveling at high speeds from Cawang in East Jakarta to Grogol, West Jakarta -- collided, with both drivers falling to the ground.

Rudy Setiawan, who was driving a van closely behind the two motorcycles, braked suddenly but ran over Suwarno.

At that time, a presidential guard truck driven by Chief Corporal Wiratno, who was unaware of the accident, bumped into the van from behind, which pushed the car, the motorcycle and Sumarno -- who was struggling to get up -- several meters.

Suwarno died at the scene. His body was taken to Cipto Mangunskusumo hospital in Central Jakarta, while the other motorcycle driver, identified as Suratno, survived the pileup. He was taken to Medistra hospital in South Jakarta with a broken leg.

The body of Suwarno, a resident of Lubang Buaya in East Jakarta, was brought home from the hospital by his family later on Wednesday. They plan to bury him in Purbalingga, Central Java, where he was born.

Wiratno and the six passengers in the truck were questioned by city police but were later released.

Tjiptono said police would investigate the accident to determine whether any party could be held responsible.