Six killed as truck falls into river

JEPARA, Central Java (JP): Six people were killed and one critically injured when their truck skidded and plunged into a river here Monday, the police said yesterday.

The truck with 11 people on board was on its way from Jepara to the capital Semarang when it suddenly skidded, rammed into a bridge and plunged into the eight-meter deep Sebagor river, eyewitnesses said.

Jepara police precinct chief Lt. Bambang Eko Tjahjono told The Jakarta Post the accident was caused by the driver, Supriyanto, 25, who was killed.

"He should have slowed down when passing the slippery bridge," he said. "There is no traffic sign on that particular section of the road."

The accident happened on a bend on a rainy day.

Most of those killed and the man injured were carpenters from Jepara furniture factory who had stopped the truck to hitch a free ride to Semarang.

The police identified the bodies as Supriyanto, 25, Jumali, 24, Parjo, 28, Arif, 18, Pardi, 35, and Riyanto, 25 -- all were Jepara residents. Purmawan, 18 was seriously injured. (har/pan)