Malang, Indonesia – A tragic accident involving a Tirto Agung tourist bus and a loaded cattle feed truck occurred yesterday on the Pandaan-Malang toll road at KM 77, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to many others. This unfortunate incident took place during the Christmas and New Year holidays of 2024-2025.
Investigations by local police reveal that the accident, which occurred at 15:40 WIB, was likely caused by a truck that was not strong enough to continue uphill. The driver reportedly tried to stop the truck on the main road but lost control, causing it to reverse uncontrollably into the path of the following bus.
Malang Police Chief AKBP Putu Kholis Aryana confirmed that the road leading up to KM 77 of the Pandaan-Malang toll road from Surabaya to Malang is quite steep and curves to the left. He suspects that the truck driver did not properly secure the load before parking on the shoulder, leading to the loss of control.
The bus, with the license plate number S 7607 UW, was heavily damaged on its right side, while the rear left side of the truck was the most severely impacted. The bus was carrying a group of students from SMP Darul Quran Mulia Putri, Bogor, and their chaperones, en route to Kampung Inggris in Kediri.
Initial reports indicate that there were 52 people on the bus, including 45 females and 7 males. Sadly, four individuals lost their lives: Untung Subagyo (46), the bus driver from Magetan; Ahmad Bahrur (23), the bus attendant from Jombang; Tri Subangkit (23); and Iyan Maryanah (28), both of whom were student chaperones.
The accident caused significant backups on the toll road, with traffic congestion reaching up to 5 kilometers at its peak. To alleviate the congestion, traffic was temporarily rerouted to the Purwodadi toll road.
Local emergency services worked swiftly to evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals in Malang City and Malang Regency. This tragic accident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for proper vehicle maintenance and responsible driving.
Article source: detikJatim
