Traffic accident kills six lives

CIANJUR, West Java: At least six people were killed when an intercity bus collided head-on with a public minivan on Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in Sukamaju village here on Tuesday.

Cianjur Police identified five casualties as Langgeng Jaya bus passengers Hadli Mulyana, 17, Agus Sumarna Putra, 16, and Mamat Hidayat, 17, who were all students of Angkatan Muda Siliwangi vocational school in the town, Etam Sopian, 38, of Rawa Sari village and the minivan driver Oleh, 26. The other fatality remains unidentified.

There were 26 people injured in the crash, including a 65-year-old woman, Ocih, whose kiosk was smashed by the bus following the crash.

Cianjur Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. MH Amrozi said the Sukabumi-bound bus was involved in a race with another bus of the same company prior to the accident. A collision was unavoidable when bus driver Cecep attempted to overtake his rival, but failed to see the oncoming minivan.

Cecep was arrested following the fatal accident. -- JP