Student killed in public minivan rollover

The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

A public minivan, number B02, carrying 17 students from the YP Karya I vocational high school in Cipondoh overturned on Jakarta- Merak toll road on Monday, killing a passenger and injuring 10 others. The driver was also among those injured.

Seventeen-year-old student Mulyati died at the scene and her remains were then rushed to the Tangerang General Hospital for an autopsy.

The minivan was speeding down the middle lane of the toll road near Karawaci, Tangerang, when its left rear tire blew out.

The driver, Tarigan, lost control and the minivan rolled over, ending up lying across the middle of the road.

"I don't know how the tire could have blown out. It was a new one," said the 40-year-old Tarigan, who is being treated for serious injuries in the intensive care unit of the Qadr hospital.

Tarigan, who had only started driving the minivan last week, gave thanks that the drivers behind his minivan were able to control their vehicles and prevent a chain collision.

Nida, one of the injured passengers, said that the minivan was being driven too fast by Tarigan, panicking the passengers.

"I was sitting on the back seat. I don't know exactly how fast he was going, but it was really fast," recounted Nida.

All the injured were taken to the hospital, including nine passengers, Nida, 17, Yusnita 17, Septi, 16, Ratu Sendi, 16, Nurul, 17, Komariah, 17, Maryana, 17, Iyan Anggrayani, 17, Sarif, 17, and Tarigan, the driver.

Johendri Johar, a doctor at the hospital, said that most of the injured passengers had suffered head or leg injuries.

The students were planning on performing in the Porseni sports and art competition for elementary schools in the Citra Raya housing complex in Cikupa, Tangerang.

There were about 35 students divided in three groups who were traveling to the performance. The injured students and the dead victim were in the first group.