Toll Tragedy: Weaker Truck Likely Culprit in Fatal Purwodadi-Lawang Crash
A suspected weak truck reverse caused a fatal accident on the Surabaya-Malang Toll Road (Tol Purwodadi-Lawang) on Monday afternoon, December 23, 2024. Four people, all passengers of a bus, including the driver, lost their lives in the collision.
According to AKP Puguh Winarno, the head of the Toll Road Traffic Division of Jatim 4, the truck was carrying livestock feed. "Initial information suggests that it was unable to reverse, leading to its loss of control," Puguh said during a radio interview with Suara Surabaya.
The truck initially reversed into the left lane, causing a traffic jam, and subsequently collided with a bus transporting a group from a Bogor junior high school. The left lane was closed, causing congestion along the Surabaya-Malang Toll Road.
As of the time of this report, emergency services were still working to remove the bus and the livestock feed truck from the scene, with traffic being diverted through nearby rest areas. Drivers headed towards Malang are advised to use the alternative routes via Pandaan or Purwodadi.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but officials have warned drivers about the importance of careful reversing and adherence to traffic safety.
