Truck crashes into party, kills 17

Suherdjoko, Semarang

A joyous Sunday afternoon wedding reception turned into a horrifying tragedy after a truck slid backwards down a hill and crashed into the house in Ambarawa, Central Java, where it was being held, killing 17 people and injuring 12 others.

The accident occurred when a truck stalled on a road in Jambu subdistrict, Ambarawa, located some 20 meters above the house, according to eyewitness Suyatman.

The truck, carrying hundreds of sacks of cement, was on its way from Gresik, East Java, to Tasikamalaya, West Java.

Assistant driver Thoha tried to wedge wood under the tires to stop it from rolling down the main road connecting Semarang and Yogyakarta.

"But the wood couldn't hold the truck, and it rolled backwards into the house, which was full of guests attending the reception," Suyatman said.

Thamrin, the owner of the house, was holding a reception for his newlywed son Munirul Anam.

Sixteen people died on the scene and one died on the way to the hospital. The 12 injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital. Most of the victims were women.

The groom and the bride escaped the accident.

Driver Wawan and Thoha were among the injured after locals attacked them for the accident.

Semarang Police traffic chief Adj. Comr. Kusnoto said they were investigating the case.