Ten people killed in bus-truck collision

JAKARTA (JP): Ten people died and 19 others were severely injured when an interprovince passenger bus collided head-on with a truck carrying pine logs in Aceh early Tuesday.

Antara reported yesterday that the 10 fatalities included bus passengers, the driver of the Kurnia bus and the truck driver. The bodies have been returned to the victims' families.

The truck, owned by the PT Kertas Kraft Aceh paper company, was transporting the logs from Tarutung in North Sumatra to North Aceh.

Witnesses said the bus, driven by 35-year-old Yusra, was heading toward North Sumatra when it hit the truck, which was traveling in the opposite direction. Kamaruddin Rauf, 40, was driving the truck.

The truck's load of logs rolled onto the bus when the vehicles collided in Beusa village, Peureulak district, in the East Aceh regency.

Residents' attempts to save the 10 victims were to no avail because they had suffered severe injuries and died of blood loss.

"Many of the victims were either pinned down by the logs, or struck on the head, legs or other body parts," a witness said.

No further details were available about the cause of the accident but East Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Raden Suminar confirmed that investigations were underway. (swe)