Van accident claims 8 lives

BOJONEGORO, East Java: Eight people were killed, 12 others were seriously injured when a speeding and overloaded public van lost control and hit a tree in the village of Sudu on Wednesday morning.

Seven of the victims died instantly at the scene.

The van, plying the Bojonegoro to Cepu route, was transporting 20 people, even though its maximum safe capacity was just 15 people. Witnesses said the driver, who also died in the mishap, was attempting to avoid a bicycle traveling from the opposite direction when it finally hit a tree.

"At this time of year, public vehicles are often packed so we decided to get on this van even though it was already full. We thought it would be better for us to get to the market late than never," a survivor said, while lying in bed at the nearby hospital. --Antara