Three die in pile-up

INDRAMAYU, West Java: Three people died and 20 more were injured when two trucks and a public bus collided in the northern coastal area of Pantura, Indramayu, on Monday.

Truck driver Sarmanto, assistant Suliadi, and bus driver's assistant Zaenal were killed instantly in the crash. All the injured were taken to the Indramayu Hospital. There was no information about their conditions.

A witness said the accident happened when the bus, which was heading to Jakarta from Cirebon, tried to avoid a motorcycle but then hit a truck coming from the opposite direction. An approaching truck could not stop in time and hit the bus.

The accident caused traffic jams along the busy route for more than four hours. -- JP