A devastating multi-vehicle collision involving ten vehicles occurred on the Jakarta-bound lane of the Cipularang Toll Road at KM 93 on Thursday evening, March 5th. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of two lives and left four others with serious injuries.
According to Agni Mayvinna, Senior Manager of Jasamarga Metropolitan Tollroad Regional Division Representative Office 3, the pile-up unfolded around 8:18 PM Western Indonesia Time (WIB). She confirmed that the extensive accident temporarily rendered all lanes impassable, causing significant disruption to traffic flow.
Emergency services swiftly responded to the scene, evacuating all victims. They were immediately rushed to Radjak Hospital in Purwakarta to receive urgent medical attention for their injuries.
Suspected Cause: Container Truck Brake Failure
Kompol Joko Prihantono, Head of the Cipularang Highway Patrol (PJR) Command, stated that preliminary investigations suggest the accident was triggered by a container truck, bearing license plate B 9367 UEL, which reportedly experienced a brake system malfunction. The truck was traveling from Bandung towards Jakarta in the first lane when it encountered heavy traffic ahead, reportedly due to a dump truck experiencing issues on the shoulder.
The driver of the container truck, identified by the initials MY, was allegedly unable to control the vehicle due to the brake failure. The out-of-control truck then collided with a pickup truck, license plate B 9718 VAF, directly in front of it. This initial impact subsequently set off a chain reaction, involving eight other vehicles in the massive pile-up.
Fatalities Identified as Pickup Truck Driver and Conductor
The two individuals who tragically lost their lives in the multi-vehicle crash have been identified as the driver and conductor of the pickup truck that was struck first. In addition to the two fatalities and four severe injuries, a substantial number of vehicles also sustained significant damage as a result of the collision.
The vehicles confirmed to be involved in the incident include:
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Container Truck B 9367 UEL
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Pickup Truck B 9718 VAF
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Truck BL 8752 NP
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Toyota Rush F 1308 AZ
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Daihatsu Sigra T 1394 BJ
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Box Tronton D 9481 AF
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Toyota Hiace E 7666 AA
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Toyota Raize T 1518 HO
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Mazda Biante
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Toyota Agya
Traffic Temporarily Paralyzed, Swift Recovery Efforts Underway
The immediate aftermath of the accident brought traffic to a standstill, as all lanes at the location became impassable. Personnel from Jasamarga Metropolitan Tollroad (JMT), the Highway Patrol, tow trucks, ambulances, and Mobile Customer Service teams were immediately deployed to manage the scene, evacuate vehicles, and regulate traffic flow.
Through their coordinated efforts, one lane was successfully reopened to vehicles by 8:59 PM WIB, easing some of the congestion. By 9:43 PM WIB, a second lane was also made accessible, significantly improving the traffic situation and facilitating smoother passage for motorists.