One dies in fire engine crash

CIREBON, West Java: At least one person died and four others were injured when a fire engine slammed into a car on Tuesday at 8.30 a.m. on Jl. Fatahillah, Megu village, Weru district, Cirebon regency, West Java.

The incident happened when Khaeruddin, who was driving the fire engine at high speed, tried to avoid a motorist. The vehicle hit Suparda alias Suharno, 35, who was loading some tents onto a car which was parked at the roadside. He died instantly.

The truck also struck a market and a house nearby, injuring Saonah, 70, Wiwik, 40, Kadmira, 25, and Roso, 30. They were sent to Gunung Jati General Hospital.

Adj. Comr. Zairusi, head of the Cirebon Police's Traffic Division, said that Khaerudin, 25, was not the real driver of the fire engine. "He was forced to do the driving as the normal driver was sick," he said.

An enraged crowd mobbed Khaerudin following the incident, but the police came just in time as the angry residents were about to set the fire engine on fire. --JP