Reviewing The Location Of The Deadly Accident At GT Ciawi, Minister Of Public Works: The Cause Is ODOL Trucks

Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Public Works)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo visited the location of the deadly accident that occurred at the Ciawi 2 Toll Gate (GT), Bogor, West Java, today.

During his visit, Dody stated that the accident that occurred on Tuesday night, February 4, was caused by trucks with excess Over Dimension Over Load (ODOL).

"We are all sorry for this unimaginable incident. One of the main causes is the ODOL truck which failed to function properly," said Dody in a written statement, Wednesday, February 5.

Dody explained, based on data from the Weight in Motion system installed by Jasa Marga, it can be ascertained that the cause of the accident was an ODOL truck.

"Based on data from Weight in Motion that Jasa Marga has installed, it can be ascertained (the cause) is because of ODOL," he said.

Regarding the issue of ODOL trucks that often cause accidents, said Dody, his party together with the DPR will soon discuss this issue in the next few days.

"Currently, the government and related institutions are currently sitting together to find a balance point," said Dody.

According to Dody, this ODOL vehicle is a dilemmatic and complex problem.

He considered that this problem was not only the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), but also other related institutions, including in the economic sector.

"If we prohibit there will be problems in inflation or an increase in logistics costs. However, if we leave it like this, there will be various risks such as road damage, even accidents that cause loss of life," he said.

As a form of evaluation and follow-up, the Ministry of Public Works together with Jasa Marga and the police closed 4 toll gates and only functioned for the other 4 toll gates.

In addition, the Ministry of Public Works and Jasa Marga is also making efforts to widen toll roads to facilitate traffic flow.

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, 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.

Eight people were declared dead, four people were seriously injured and seven people suffered minor injuries.

Including, among the victims were Jasa Marga Customer Service officers who were on duty in the field.