Two killed in highway accident

Two people died when a minibus skidded into the wrong lane of the Jakarta-Cikampek highway and was then hit by a public bus coming in the other direction.

The accident took place yesterday morning.

Police identified the dead men as Sugiyanto, 48, a resident of Jl. Dewi Sartika, Bandung, and Ishak, 18, of Jl. Otto, Iskandardinata, also in Bandung. Both were passengers of the minibus.

Suparman, the driver of the Toyota Kijang minibus, is being treated at the nearby Bekasi hospital.

Based on questioning conducted by Bekasi police, Suparman said he failed to control his vehicle because he was sleepy. Suparman was reportedly driving at high speed at the time of the accident.

The ill-fated vehicle was heading to Jakarta from Bandung. Witnesses said that the minibus rolled at least five times before reaching the other lane, and was then smashed by Hiba Utama bus coming from Jakarta. (bsr)