Two killed as taxi sinks

Two killed as taxi sinks

JAKARTA (JP): A taxi driver and his passenger were killed when
their taxi plunged into the Marunda fishing port in Cilincing
subdistrict, North Jakarta, early on Tuesday.

Tanjung Priok Port police identified the victims as Agus
Buang, 34, a Prestasi taxi driver who lived in Kalibaru Barat,
Cilincing, North Jakarta, and 56-year old Abdul Rojak, who lived
on Jl Lorong II, Koja, also in North Jakarta.

A port police officer who asked for anonymity explained Agus
had parked his taxi at the edge of the Marunda quay and was
asleep, while awaiting his passenger Abdul Rojak at about 3:30
a.m.

When Abdul Rojak arrived to get into the taxi, Agus started
the car and he depressed the accelerator pedal without stepping
on the clutch beforehand, as he was still drowsy.

"As a result, the taxi jumped forward and plunged into the
deep port," the officer told The Jakarta Post, adding that the
taxi was raised from the water at 9 a.m.

When the taxi was raised, Agus was still behind the wheel,
while Rojak was found floating some 100 meters away from the car.

Two of Agus' elder sisters Ntin Suprihatin and Suhartati, who
went to see their brother body at the morgue of Cipto
Mangunkusumo General Hospital told the Post that Agus shared the
taxi with one of his friends.

"Agus had long wanted to be a single taxi driver but God
called him earlier," Suhartati said sadly. (01)