Observer Suspects Cause Of Deadly Accident At GT Ciawi Due To Driver Negligence

JAKARTA - Transportation Observer who is also the Executive Director of the Institute for Transportation Studies (Instran) Deddy Herlambang assessed that the fatal accident involving a truck at the Ciawi Toll Gate (GT), West Java, was solely not due to a failed brake.

According to him, there was negligence of the driver in terms of braking.

"So, the failure to brake can also be the driver who is negligent. Maybe nervous, maybe he is sleepy, maybe he can't hit the brakes. But, if it's a matter of suspicion, the brake facility can also be damaged or the driver. Or in this case human error caused a failure of the brake function," said Deddy when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, February 5.

Deddy assessed that there is a possibility that the driver was tired and sleepy while driving his truck. So, you can't control the brake function.

"Microsleep can also be done, because a lot of microsleep occurs between 21.00 and 24.00. It is possible that the driver is also tired, yes. That's from Sukabumi, it means that he may have arrived there from the afternoon, so he is tired," he said.

"Yes, it can also be when he is sleepy, he is surprised that there are many cars in line, for example, he continues to nervous, nervous, for example. So, maybe he can step on the gas wrongly. But, for the suspicion, yes, the brakes failed or the braking failure. The failure was not because the brakes failed, but also the drivers could fail (in) the braking ability, even though the brakes were not damaged," he added.

In addition, according to Deddy, the driver may also drive his truck in a strong state.

This is because the accident resulted in strong friction which caused the vehicle to catch fire.

"If you look at (the existing conditions), the position is fast. Moreover, there is an Avanza car that caught fire, yes. That means, there was a strong collision, so there was friction between iron and sparks. I mean that the temporary analysis must be tight," explained Deddy.

"Moreover, (there were) injuries in the vehicle, yes. Including, the toll road officers who were guarding were injured too. That means, right, it's really fast (the vehicle rate)," he continued.

Furthermore, Deddy assessed that the speed of the truck was in the range of 80-90 kilometers per hour.

However, he said, later the police will conduct a crime scene (TKP) to find out the cause of the deadly accident.

"But, what is clear is that maybe (the speed) is above the 80s (kilometers), that's it. If 100 is too (short). Later the police have the tool to check the last speed of the truck, because there is also CCTV that can be analyzed," said Deddy.

"If it's above 100 (kilometers) it's difficult. But, if it's above 80, maybe yes. The problem truck is really big, yes," he concluded.

Previously, a series of accidents occurred at the Ciawi 2 Toll Gate (GT), precisely on KM 41+400 of the Jagorawi Toll Road towards Jakarta on Tuesday night, February 4.

Shortly after the incident, officers from the Representative Office 1 Jasamarga Metropolitan Tollroad (JMT) as the manager of the Jagorawi Toll Road with Jasamarga Tollroad Operator (JMTO) and the police arrived at the location to provide security and immediately make traffic arrangements.

Senior Manager Representative Office 1 Jasamarga Metropolitan Tollroad Regional Division Alvin Andituakat Singarimbun said the traffic to GT Ciawi 2 had been diverted out through GT Bogor during security and evacuation at the scene.

"Since 02.00 WIB, two substations have been opened to be crossed and at 05.15 until now one automatic Toll Substation (GTO) and two Multi Toll Substations have been opened. Officers have also activated mobile reader to increase transaction capacity at GT Ciawi 2," said Alvin in his written statement, Wednesday, February 5.

Based on information from officers in the field, it is suspected that a truck carrying gallons of mineral water had braking problems, so the driver could not control the speed of his vehicle at GT Ciawi 2 and crashed into five vehicles in front of him.

In this series of accidents, six vehicles were involved.

As a result of this incident, three substations at GT Ciawi 2 were damaged, one truck and five MPV vehicles were heavily damaged.

Based on provisional information in the field, eight people were declared dead, four people were seriously injured and seven people suffered minor injuries.

Among the victims were Jasa Marga Customer Service officers who were on duty in the field.

"All victims have been evacuated to Ciawi Hospital for further treatment," said Alvin.