SEMARANG: The police officially named Jalan Widodo (JW), the driver of the Rosalia Indah Bus, as a suspect in the accident case that occurred at KM 370 of the Semarang-Batang Toll Road on Thursday, April 11 2024.
Commissioner Sonny Irawan, Director of Traffic for the Central Java Regional Police, confirmed this to Liputan 6 on Friday (12 April).
Sonny explained that the designation of Lane as a suspect was based on the results of the case held on Thursday. This determination is supported by two valid pieces of evidence.
Police suspect that the driver of the unlucky bus was sleepy while driving.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, on a separate occasion on the same day emphasized that the Rosalia Indah Autobus (PO) company would also face sanctions if it was proven that it allowed its driver to drive for more than 8 hours during the accident.
“There are several rules that we have set, where drivers are not allowed to drive for more than 8 hours. If they violate them, of course there will be provisions that apply to bus owners,” said Budi as reported by CNN Indonesia.
Budi also revealed that the bus driver would undergo blood pressure and drug tests. These steps are taken to determine the possible causes of the accident.
The accident occurred when the Rosalia Indah bus was traveling from west to east in the left lane of the road.
When they arrived at the scene, the bus left the road and entered a ditch 200 meters long.
Bus conductor Rosalia Indah on behalf of Sumarno was also one of the seven victims who died in the accident. Two of the seven victims identified were toddlers.
The seven victims who died included Sumarno (45), a resident of Wuryantoro, Wonogiri Regency; Shaquina Banunga Zeeya Salsabila (1 year old); Zifana (3 years); Moh. Mahsun (46), resident of South Bekasi; Masri’in; Point; and Aris Riski.
The victim’s body has been evacuated to Kendal Islamic Hospital.
The ill-fated bus is known to have carried 34 people, including one driver and one conductor.
A total of 15 passengers were reported to have suffered injuries, while 12 other passengers were safe.
