The Container Driver In The Deadly Accident In Balikpapan Disobeyed The Rules From The Beginning

JAKARTA - The driver of the container truck that caused the fatal accident at Simpang Rapak, Balikpapan, turned out to have violated road rules from the start. Truck drivers driving on designated roads are prohibited from passing trucks at certain hours.

"Yes (violating road rules, ed)," said the Head of Public Relations of the East Kalimantan Police, Kombes Yusuf Sutejo, to VOI, Friday, January 21.

According to the Mayor of Balikpapan's regulation, Yusuf said, the area around Simpang Rapak does not allow heavy equipment trucks to pass every day. This rule applies from 06.00 to 21.00 WIB.

"So there is indeed a Balikpapan Mayor's regulation there that heavy equipment transportation cannot pass there every day from 06.00 WIB to 21.00 WIB," he said.

However, because the driver named Muhamad Ali was late, he decided to cross the road. The driver thought that if you passed Simpang Rapak, you would reach your destination faster.

"Maybe it was too late so I passed there. Should have turned around," said Yusuf.

This successive accident occurred at Simpang Rapak, North Balikpapan, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. The accident involved dozens of motorized vehicles.

According to a video circulating on social media, the accident occurred on Friday, January 21, at around 06.15 WITA.

The accident started when several vehicles stopped at an intersection. However, soon a container truck appeared that was traveling at high speed.

However, the truck did not slow down. The truck hit all the vehicles in front of it.

As a result of the accident, four people died. Then, one person was critically injured, four were seriously injured, and 17 were slightly injured.