Police identify three causes of the accident; container truck driver named as suspect

West Java Police (Polda Jabar) and Purwakarta Police (Polres Purwakarta) conducted a crime-scene investigation into a multi-vehicle crash that killed three people on KM 93B of the Cipularang Toll Road in Purwakarta on Thursday night (5 February). Preliminary scene-of-crime (TKP) work indicated three potential factors behind the crash, and container-truck driver Muhamad Yahya, also known as MY, has been named a suspect.

The Directorate of Traffic of West Java Police (Dir Lantas Polda Jabar) deployed a Traffic Accident Analysis (TAA) team on Friday morning (6 March) to establish the exact causes. Investigators carried out TKP inspections employing 3D scanner equipment to determine the precise causes.

Early findings include suspected brake failure on the container truck, violations related to cargo loading, and an obstruction caused by the truck breaking down.

According to KIR inspection documents, the container truck with registration B 9367 UEL had a maximum permitted load (JBI) of 16 tonnes. At the time of the incident, the driver was found to be carrying roughly 25 tonnes of plastic seed, well above the permissible limit. ‘From the documents we have received and the condition of the vehicle we observed, the suspect was carrying about 25 tonnes. This exceeds the allowed load,’ said Director of Traffic at Polda Jabar, Kombes Raydian Kokrosono.

The container-truck driver Muhamad Yahya alias MY has been named as a suspect and is being held at Purwakarta Police Station for further questioning.

Police also urged drivers, especially freight-transport operators, to regularly check vehicle condition and comply with load limits as per KIR regulations to ensure road safety.