April 9, 2024
JAKARTA – At least 12 people died on Monday after a minibus traveling along a counterflow lane crashed into a bus on a busy toll road in West Java, forcing the National Police to evaluate the overall implementation of counterflow lanes during the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) that is now in full swing.
The crash took place at around 7:30 a.m. on kilometer 58 of the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road in Karawang, West Java.
It started when the Suzuki GranMax minibus heading to Cikampek on a counterflow lane changed lanes and drove into oncoming traffic, reportedly in an attempt to reach the shoulder of the road on the other side of the counterflow lane.
The minibus hit a speeding oncoming bus that reportedly was unable to stop in time.
A third car, a mini SUV, behind the bus failed to swerve away from the crash and hit the bus, according to the police and the bus driver.
The police are still investigating why the minibus swerved into oncoming traffic, but several media outlets reported the minibus was attempting to reach the shoulder of the road due either due to an engine problem or the driver’s fatigue.
Counterflow lanes are among traffic policies the police have put in place on Java’s main toll roads since the beginning of mudik on Friday to ease gridlock during what is expected to be the biggest mudik in Indonesia’s history.
The police have since suspended the counterflow lane policy on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road starting from kilometer 48 until kilometer 70, and have promised an overall evaluation of the traffic policy.
“[We will] evaluate [the contraflow lane policy] for the sake of all of our safety,” National Police traffic corps chief Insp. Gen. Aan Suhanan said at the scene of the crash, as quoted by Tribunnews.com.
Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said all the 12 casualties were on board the minibus.
“All of the 12 people who died in the accident were on the minibus, while another two people on the bus were injured, comprising one passenger and the bus attendant,” Muhadjir said in a press conference on Monday.
The Transportation Ministry Land Transportation Director General Hendro Sugianto said in a statement on Monday that his ranks would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
He also urged mudik-goers to take frequent rests, saying that fatigue during hours-long driving was one of the biggest contributors to car crashes in past mudik seasons.
“Given the dense traffic conditions, which can cause fatigue for travelers, [we] hope that travelers can prioritize their rest,” he said.