Remaining 'Bajaj' crash victims found

JAKARTA (JP): Bodies of the last two passengers missing after a bajaj (three-wheeled taxi) was hit by a train and plunged into a canal in Petamburan on Tuesday evening were found yesterday, bringing the death toll from the accident to four.

The two victims were identified as Wardji, 60, and the bajaj driver, Mat Doari, 30. They were found floating in Kalijodo, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, by city police at about 6 a.m. yesterday.

The bodies of two other passengers, identified as Rasmini, 60, and Suri, 50, were spotted floating in the canal near the scene of the accident on Wednesday.

Only Neneng, an 18-year-old girl, survived the accident. She clambered out of the vehicle as soon as it hit the water.

The bajaj in which the four were traveling plunged into the Banjir Kanal waterway after being hit by the Rangkasbitung-Tanah Abang train on an unguarded level crossing.

Neneng is being treated at Kramat Jati Hospital in East Jakarta.

Mat Romli, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver who tried to help the ill-fated bajaj just before it was hit, was also hurt in the accident. He is receiving treatment at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Central Jakarta.

"We're glad that the we eventually found the victims. Their bodies have been taken away by relatives," Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Aritonang said.

Separately, police found the decomposing body of a man in his 20s in a sack near the Cengkareng toll road in West Jakarta at about 9 a.m. yesterday.

The victim. identified as Eddy Purwanto, was dressed in a white shirt with blue jeans. He had suffered a severe neck wound and had been stabbed a number of times.

"We are currently awaiting postmortem results to assist investigation of this case," Aritonang added.

South Jakarta Police have found a car, registration number L 971 EV, which is believed to belong to the murder victim, on Jl. Minangkabau, South Jakarta.

Bloodstained clothes and the vehicle documents were found in the car, South Jakarta Police detective chief Maj. Rico. A said yesterday.

He said investigations revealed that Eddy was killed three days ago in Bojonegoro, East Java. His car was reported missing and had allegedly been taken by his killers, he added.

"We are cooperating with Surabaya Police in our investigations," he said. (edt)