Two die in car crash in Banyumas

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto, Central Java

Sokarayee Salae, 32, a Thai citizen who was pursuing a university degree in Yogyakarta, and his Indonesian friend Rizal, a resident of Jl. Cokrodirjan, Yogyakarta, died in a car accident on Tuesday night, Police said on Wednesday.

Banyumas Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. LOM Marpaung said the accident occurred when Sokarayee, who was driving a Suzuki Carry minivan, was speeding along Jl. Gombong-Buntu in Banyumas regency, Central Java, in a westerly direction.

The police chief, quoting witnesses, said the minivan collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction when Sokarayee tried to overtake a small box truck.

"Sokarayee lost control of his car and collided with the truck," he said.

Surprised by the sound of the crash, residents in the surrounding neighborhood came out of their houses to help the victims.

The residents used wooden beams and a crowbar to rescue Sokarayee and Rizal, who were trapped inside the cabin, from their wrecked minivan.

However, both were already dead when they were finally removed from the wreckage.

Marpaung said Sokarayee had been fatally injured in the accident, and that both of his legs were broken. Rizal had also suffered fatal injuries. Their bodies were taken to Gombong Hospital for an autopsy.

Preliminary medical reports said the two might have died from severe blood loss.

The driver of the truck survived the accident unscathed.