One dead, four injured in road accident

CIREBON, East Java: One woman died and four other people were injured when a dump truck collided with a van in the East Java town of Cirebon on Thursday morning.

The deceased was identified as 45-year-old Tuti Ilah Asmirah, the coordinating head of the Cirebon administration's agricultural office. She was a passenger in the van.

Two of the injured victims were identified as 45-year-old Sahdudin and 52-year-old Aam Jamhari, who suffered critical injuries. All four of the victims were taken to the nearby Gunung Jati Hospital.

Astanapura Police chief Adj. Comr. Mayhudin said the accident occurred when the driver of the dump truck, Kasdi, lost control of his speeding vehicle while trying to avoid ramming into the back of a car that had stopped in front of him.

Kasdi swerved to the right to avoid the car and crashed head- on into the van, which was traveling in the opposite direction.

Kasdi fled the scene of the accident and is still at large. Police are investigating the crash. -- JP