Tollroad accident kills six, injures 23

TANGERANG (JP): Six people died and 23 others were seriously injured in a traffic accident on Thursday morning involving a Mitsubishi Colt minibus and a container truck at the Jakarta- Merak toll road near Balaraja area here.

The dead bodies were taken to Tangerang General Hospital, while the injured victims were admitted to Qadr hospital at the Islamic Village complex near the Tangerang toll road gate.

"The injured victims are still under intensive medical treatment," said Novi, a nurse at the Qadr hospital, adding that none of them were in a critical condition.

A preliminary police investigation established that the accident occurred at about 4 a.m. at STA 40.980 on the toll road, and was the result of the truck driver, believed to be sleepy, losing control of his speeding vehicle.

The container truck smashed into the back of the minibus, which was carrying with 30 passengers. The vehicle then crashed into the drainage on the side of the road.

Traffic policemen, joined by officers from the Jasa Marga toll road operator who were alerted later, rushed to the scene and evacuated the victims.

Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto said the fatalities were all passengers on the minibus. The driver, Wawan Sunarwan, fled the scene shortly after the accident.

The driver of the truck, Nasrullah, also decided to run from the scene, officer Pudji said.

"We expect the two drivers to immediately turn themselves in before we take firm action against them. Whatever they were thinking then, they must take responsibility now because we're dealing here with human's lives," he said.

The deceased were identified as Abas, Nasir, Dawi, Asmani, Sudin, and Habli.

According to nurse Novi, some of the victims suffered head wounds.

"It might take a couple of days to determine the extent of their injuries," she said. (41/03)