Turkish Man Named Suspect After Ramming Four Vehicles, Injuring Seven in North Kuta

A Turkish man, identified as 49-year-old OSA, has been placed in custody after being named a suspect in a pile-up on Jalan Merta Sari, North Kuta, Badung. Police elevated his legal status after gathering what they described as strong evidence of his actions, which involved ramming four vehicles.

‘We have conducted a case review and elevated the driver’s status from alleged perpetrator to suspect. He is currently detained for further investigation,’ said Badung Police Traffic Unit Chief AKP Ni Luh Tiviasih on Friday (17/7/2026).

The suspect’s reckless driving, which resulted in collisions with three motorcycles and one car, went viral on social media. The incident, which erupted on Monday evening (13/7), was immediately investigated by the Badung Police Traffic Unit in coordination with the North Kuta Police.

‘Our officers have processed the crime scene and secured the involved vehicles as evidence. We have also collected CCTV footage from the surrounding area and examined witnesses,’ Ni Luh Tiviasih stated.

At least seven people were reported injured due to the severe impact of the consecutive collisions. All victims were rushed to several nearby hospitals for medical treatment. ‘The seven injured victims have been taken to hospitals in Denpasar and Badung for medical care. We are also coordinating with the hospitals to obtain their post-mortem reports,’ she added.

The Badung Police have urged the public to remain calm and trust the legal process, advising against drawing premature conclusions before the investigation is complete.

The incident began with a hit-and-run spree by OSA on Monday evening around 7:30 p.m. local time. The foreign national was driving at high speed from the south when he struck several motorcyclists before the traffic lights on Jalan Merta Sari. Instead of stopping, he deliberately accelerated to flee, subsequently rear-ending an APV minivan, causing it to lose control and crash into an electricity pole. The middle-aged man’s violent escape continued northwards, damaging a rattan craft shop and a restaurant along his path.

His desperate actions sparked public outrage, with a mob chasing him to the Muding Agung housing complex. After circling within the residential area, his flight came to an abrupt halt when his car became wedged and crashed into a retaining wall in a narrow alley, where he was surrounded and subdued by local residents.