Truck Driver Admits Google Maps Distraction Caused Crash That Damaged Tendean Footbridge
A truck driver transporting heavy equipment, identified as 28-year-old Andre, has revealed the cause of the collision that severely damaged the pedestrian bridge (JPO) on Jalan Raya Kapten Tendean, South Jakarta. Andre admitted the incident, which occurred on Tuesday (14/7) at around 01.00 WIB, happened because he was too focused on a digital navigation app (Google Maps).
Andre explained that he was not drowsy at the time of the incident and was accompanied by a colleague, 25-year-old Fajar. However, because it was their first time traversing the route from Mampang to Blok M, their concentration was divided as they tried to find their destination using a mobile phone. ‘We were about two kilometres from our destination. We were focused on looking at the map. It was our first time passing through here, so we didn’t know the road,’ Andre told reporters at the scene.
The orange truck was travelling from the Summarecon Bogor area with a mission to deliver a crane to the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) in South Jakarta. Andre stated he was accustomed to transporting heavy equipment, but noted that the load this time had different height dimensions than usual. He did not realise the crane he was carrying would strike the underside of the JPO. Furthermore, Andre claimed there were no physical warning signs or height restriction barriers installed on the road segment before the bridge. ‘There was no barrier in front. There should have been,’ he said.
Although the incident resulted in no casualties or injuries to the crew or residents, the impact caused fatal damage to the Tendean JPO structure. Observations at the scene showed the bridge stairs had separated from the main body, while one of the bridge’s support pillars was lifted from its foundation due to the impact of the truck’s load. The lengthy evacuation process paralysed traffic flow from Mampang Prapatan towards Blok M until morning, with congestion stretching back to the Kuningan intersection and the Warung Buncit area.
The Traffic Directorate of Polda Metro Jaya deployed officers and implemented traffic engineering starting at 08.30 WIB. Vehicles coming from Hotel Mercure or Trans TV heading towards Senopati were diverted straight to Jalan Mampang Prapatan Raya to make a U-turn. The DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency also urged motorists to avoid Jalan Kapten Tendean and use four alternative routes. The JPO facility has been completely closed to the public for safety reasons while authorities calculate the material losses from the infrastructure damage.