Fatal Accident on Pandaan-Malang Toll Road: Bus Carrying SMP IT Darul Quran Mulia Putri Bogor Students Collides with Truck
Malang – A tragic accident occurred on the Pandaan-Malang Toll Road at KM 77, claiming the lives of four individuals. A bus transporting students from SMP IT Darul Quran Mulia Putri Bogor collided with a truck carrying animal feed, resulting in fatalities. The truck, with license plate L 9126 UU, was unable to ascend the hill, causing it to reverse uncontrollably into the path of the oncoming bus, which was unable to avoid the collision.
The incident transpired at 15:40 WIB. Witnesses reported that the truck, laden with animal feed, struggled to climb the incline, causing the driver to stop the vehicle on the toll road. Unbeknownst to him, the bus with license plate S 7607 UW, carrying the SMP IT Darul Quran Mulia Putri Bogor students en route to Kampung Inggris, Kediri, was approaching from behind.
Suddenly, the truck transporting animal feed reversed uncontrolled onto the toll road, blocking the path of the approaching bus. The bus driver’s attempt to prevent a collision was unsuccessful, resulting in a severe impact that claimed four lives.
Malang Police Chief AKBP Putu Kholis Aryana stated that the road contour at KM 77 on the Pandaan-Malang Toll Road from Surabaya to Malang is slightly inclined and curves to the left. "The truck should have taken appropriate safety measures when parking, butUnfortunately, this was not done, leading to this unfortunate incident," Kholis said on Monday (December 23, 2024).
The bus, carrying approximately 47 individuals including 40 students, accompaniments, and crew members, sustained minor damage on the right side as a result of the collision. The truck, however, suffered severe damage on its left rear section, while the bus’s right side was most affected.
Currently, the police are focusing on identifying and documenting the deceased and injured victims. DNA-based identification methods are being employed due to the unavailability of identification tags attached to the victims.
The accident caused significant traffic congestion on the Pandaan-Malang Toll Road, with reported delays of up to 5 kilometers. As a result, traffic from Surabaya to Malang was diverted to the Purwodadi Toll Road. Vehicles trapped ahead of the closure continue to await evacuation.
(dpe/iwd)
