Three die in chain collision

PADANG, West Sumatra: Three people were killed and 22 others injured in a chain collision involving four vehicles on Jl. Adinegoro in the Koto Tengah district here on Saturday.

The accident involved a Dagang Pesisir public bus plying the Padang-Lubuk Basung route, a truck carrying stones, a pickup truck and an Espass van.

An officer with the Padang traffic police, Second Insp. Hendro, said the three fatalities were identified as the driver of the bus, Alfikar, 30, the codriver of the bus, Zainal Chan, 41, and a female bus passenger, Lis, 42.

Witnesses said the incident occurred when the public bus attempted to pass the pickup truck at the three-way junction of Teluk Kabung. As the bus was passing the pickup, a truck appeared coming in the opposite direction.

The bus driver appeared to lose control of his vehicle and the bus collided head-on with the truck, before smashing into the pickup and the Espass van, which was behind the truck, Hendro said. (28/emf)