West Java Police Deploy Scientific Team to Investigate Fatal Indramayu Crash
The Traffic Directorate of the West Java Regional Police deployed a Traffic Accident Analysis (TAA) team to carry out a scientific examination of the crime scene in order to determine the cause of the accident in Indramayu on Sunday (12 July), which claimed 12 lives.
Head of the Law Enforcement Sub-Directorate of the West Java Traffic Directorate, Assistant Grand Commissioner Jimmy Manurung, speaking in Indramayu on Monday, said the TAA team was deployed to establish the cause of the accident through an investigation based on scientific and digital analysis.
“The TAA team is here to carry out a digital and scientific examination of the scene to uncover what may have caused the accident,” he said.
He said the traffic accident in Kiajaran Kulon Village, Lohbener Sub-district, Indramayu Regency, involved three vehicles: a pickup and two lorries.
Based on preliminary findings, Jimmy said the pickup had stopped in the right-hand lane of the road in order to make a U-turn.
However, the vehicle was then struck from behind by a Hino box lorry, pushing it into the opposing lane where it collided with another lorry travelling from the opposite direction.
The accident resulted in 12 deaths, comprising three victims who died at the scene and nine others who died while receiving treatment in hospital.
“In addition to the fatalities, six others sustained minor injuries and are still receiving treatment at Mitra Plumbon Hospital,” he said.
Nevertheless, he stressed that police have not yet named a suspect as the scene examination and investigation are still ongoing.
Jimmy added that a suspect could be named once the entire investigative process, including the case review, has been completed.
“At present we are still examining the scene. As for the suspect, we will announce it after the case review at the resort police station,” he said.
On that occasion, he also urged the public not to use pickup vehicles to carry passengers, as this risks causing greater loss of life in the event of an accident.
“Under Article 137 of Law Number 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transport, pickups are prohibited from carrying people. The fatality rate is very high,” Jimmy said.