Two killed, 24 injured on eve of Idul Fitri

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two people were killed and at least two dozen others were injured in traffic accidents across the capital before takbiran, the parade on the eve of Idul Fitri when people repeatedly chant Allahu Akbar (God is great), and over the Idul Fitri holiday.

Samsiati died at Fatmawati hospital, South Jakarta, from severe head injuries sustained when the public minibus she was riding was hit on Tuesday by a Kota-Serpong train at 9:51 a.m., when it was crossing a railway.

Eight other passengers underwent intensive treatment at the hospital while 19 others were treated at Remedika Bintaro for minor injuries.

Railway crossing keeper Odih claimed he was not informed by Pondok Ranji station of the oncoming train.

Pesanggrahan Police are questioning the minibus driver, Ali Murtadho.

In another traffic accident, Iwan, 20, a resident of Jatibening, Bekasi, was killed on Tuesday at 1 a.m. after the takbiran parade when his Suzuki Satria motorcycle was hit by a silver Toyota Kijang.

Iwan, who was driving the motorcycle with Heni Suryani, 16, riding pillion, lost control after the crash and plunged into a canal on Jl. Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, near the office of tap water operator PD PAM Jaya.

The two were rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM), Central Jakarta, but Iwan died on the way. Heni was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit. She had a three- centimeter open wound on her left temple.

On Monday at around 7 p.m., Bonar Pakpahan lapsed into a coma after his Honda Supra motorcycle was hit by a white Toyota Kijang in front of Koja Hospital, North Jakarta, as he was about to join the parade. He also suffered severe eye injuries and bruises on his chest.

Bonar was in the coma for two hours before he was taken to RSCM for treatment.

Fauzan Yakub, 19, suffered serious eye injuries at 3 a.m. on Tuesday after an unidentified person threw firecrackers in his direction. He had just returned home from the parade.

Riyono Mahfud, a resident of Manggarai, South Jakarta, was beaten up by a group of people at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, after he had berated them for throwing firecrackers at him and his friends during the parade on Monday night.