Reckless driver was likely on drugs

Reckless driver was likely on drugs

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police revealed on Monday that traces of methamphetamine had been
found in the urine sample of a motorist who plowed into a group
of Sunday morning joggers on Jl. Sudirman, indicating that he may
have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the
accident.

Four people were killed in the accident and at least three
others were injured.

"Methamphetamine is a substance for making, among other
things, ecstasy," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo
said on Monday.

Besides being used to make ecstasy, methamphetamine can also
be used to treat obesity.

"We will charge him under Article 359 of the Criminal Code,
which stipulates a maximum of five years in prison for
manslaughter.

"However, if it's proven that he was under the influence of
drugs, we will probably press multiple charges under Law No.
5/1997 on psychotropic substances," Prasetyo said.

The driver, Raden Aradea Kusumah Diningrat (not Raden Andreas
Kusumadiningrat as initially reported), was allegedly speeding
from his house in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, to Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport in Cengkareng, Tangerang, to pick up a
friend at 6:30 a.m.

The accident took place at about 6:10 a.m. in front of the
Bung Karno Sports complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Police investigator Second Adj. Insp. D. Bintoro said on
Monday that the family of one of the fatalities, Suyatmo, 34,
learned about his death from Monday's newspapers. Suyatmo of
Palmerah, West Jakarta, was the last to be identified.

Bintoro said the investigators had questioned witnesses and
Aradea, who is a father of one child and works as a technician.

One of the injured, Yudi Wicaksono, 27, whose left arm was
broken in the accident, appeared at police headquarters with his
eight-month pregnant wife Lucy. Lucy was with her husband when
the accident occurred.

"It was a miracle that nothing bad happened to me," Lucy said,
adding that she was the first one to be hit by the car.

"We had just arrived at the scene to have a bit of a morning
walk as I'm expecting our first child," she said. "I just got off
our parked motorcycle when suddenly the car careered into us. I
fell, and later I saw several others, including my husband,
fall," she added.

Yudi and Lucy said Aradea's family had promised to cover all
medical costs for Yudi's broken arm, as well as for any
subsequent treatment.