Six killed in toll road pileup

TANGERANG: Six people were killed and five others injured in a pileup involving an oil tanker belonging to PT Pacific Sumber Segara, a Mitsubishi T-200 minibus and a Suzuki Carry minibus at 12:15 a.m. on the Jakarta-Merak toll road in Bitung, Tangerang, on Monday.

The victims were Samaun, 35, who was driving the Mitsubishi minibus and passengers, Sinan, 29, and Ratih, 6, of Sukaratna village, Bekasi, and three other people, including a boy, who has not been identified.

According to Krisdianto, operational director of PT Marga Mandala that manages the Bitung-Merak toll road, the accident was caused by the oil truck, which was heading to Jakarta, when it crossed the median.

The driver, who was allegedly sleepy, lost control of the vehicle, he said. The Mitsubishi minibus heading in the direction of Merak was traveling at a high speed so the driver did not have enough time to brake and he hit the truck.

Isnen, the truck driver, turned himself in at Balaraja Police Station.--JP