Two Japanese die in six-car pile-up

BEKASI, West Java (JP): Two Japanese nationals died yesterday in a six-car pile-up in the Cibitung district on the Cikampek- Cawang toll road.

The two men, Yoshimi Shirasahi, 53, and Tanaka Kunihiro, 47, were in a Kijang van, driven by Djunaedi, 27, when a truck in front of them braked suddenly. Their van smashed into the back of the truck.

A small truck, two buses and another truck then slammed into the back of the van.

Shirasahi and Kunihiro died instantly. Their bodies are at the Bekasi general hospital. Djunaedi, who was seriously injured, was rushed to a nearby private hospital.

The two Japanese men and Djunaedi worked for private textile producer PT Pusaka Buana Raya in West Bekasi.

An employee of the firm said Shirasahi's and Kunihiro's bodies might be flown to Japan.

She said their families in Japan had been informed and would soon arrive in Jakarta to pick up the bodies.

On Saturday, two traffic accidents took place on the turnpike, claiming two lives and injuring five people.

Witnesses said a speeding mini bus carrying 13 passengers from Pemalang, Central Java hit a truck from behind.

A passenger named Suroso, 37, was instantly killed and another passenger seriously injured.

The second accident took place when a sedan carrying Chu Suk Cun, 43, her two daughters, Carolina, 13, and Elizabeth, 11, baby sitter Nasikem, 22, and the driver Karman, 25, hit a bridge on the toll road in Bekasi Timur.

Elizabeth died in the accident while the rest were seriously injured. (kod)