Deadly Indonesia Pileup Raises Questions
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JAKARTA (Worthy News) – A massive pileup of cars that miraculously killed only one person and injured dozens outside Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, Monday raised new questions about poor road conditions and reckless driving in the mainly Muslim Southeast Asian nation.
“If we watch the video, it is a miracle that only one died,” said church worker Victoria, who uses only one name.
According to witnesses, the accident occurred on the Cipularang Toll Road, dubbed the “devil’s road” by locals, which connects West Java province to Jakarta, at around 3:30 p.m. local time.
Police said the crash about 108 kilometers (67.1 miles) southeast of the capital was possibly triggered by “a semi-trailer truck whose brakes failed,” causing it “to collide fatally” with up to 23 vehicles ahead.
Victoria, a Christian involved in hosting a house church and village evangelism, knows the road well. “Every year, deadly accidents happen here. But this pileup was massive,” she told Worthy News.
At least one person was killed and some 30 injured, including four seriously, Worthy News established based on police and other sources. Several were rushed to West Java hospitals.
HEAVILY DAMAGED
Videos circulating online showed multiple vehicles piled up and some heavily damaged, with rescuers seen helping evacuate individuals from the wreckage.
It came about five years after a pileup involving dozens of cars at nearly the exact location left eight people dead, Indonesian media said.
Christians say deadly road accidents are common in Southeast Asian countries, mainly due to poor road conditions, reckless driving, as well as overloading cars.
According to official statistics, the total number of road traffic accidents in Indonesia was over 204,000 in 2022, with more than 27,000 deaths.
“Driving in Indonesia can be very scary,” Victoria said. “It can make our work challenging to reach villages where I want to help churches.”
The government has been pressured to improve infrastructure in Southeast Asia’s fast-growing and largest economy.
(With reporting from Indonesia)
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