Police Error Number Of Victims Of Deadly Accident In Balikpapan, Previously Called Five: Permission To Update, 4 People Died

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JAKARTA - The Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Police Dedi Prasetyo conveyed the latest data while the number of victims who died in a fatal accident at the Muara Rapak traffic light at Simpang Muara Rapak, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, amounted to four people.

"Please allow me to rectify the last update in the field, where four people died, one person is still critical", said Dedi as quoted by ANTARA on Friday, January 21.

Based on the results of coordination with the Head of Public Relations of the East Kalimantan Police, data on victims was obtained as of 11.54 WIB, four people died, one was critical, four were seriously injured, and 17 were slightly injured.

The victims were treated at three referral hospitals, namely Khanujoso Hospital, Faith Hospital, and Ibnu Sina Hospital.

Previously, it was reported that the National Police Headquarters through the Traffic Corps (Korlantas) moved quickly to explore and investigate the causes of a series of accidents in Balikpapan that involved one tronton truck with dozens of four and two-wheeled vehicles.

"Police Headquarters will dispatch the TAA (traffic accident analysis) team of the National Police Korlantas to the TKP", said Dedi.

According to Dedi, the team will determine the main cause of the accident that resulted in the death of four people.

"To back up scientific proof of the cause of the prominent accident, which currently results in four deaths and 14 injuries", said Dedi.

So far, said Dedi, based on information from the tronton truck driver, the vehicle he was driving experienced a failed brake when passing at the Muara Rapak red light.

"The truck driver's statement that the brake air pump didn't work, causing the brakes to fail", said Dedi.

A series of accidents involving a heavily loaded tronton truck crashed into several people waiting in line at the red light at the Soekarno-Hatta Road Interchange, Balikpapan.

The accident occurred at 06.15 WIB. The initial assumption was that the truck had failed brakes, while geographically the road was straight downhill from the hills.

The vehicles involved in the accident consisted of six four-wheeled vehicles consisting of two private vehicles, two city transportation, and two pickups. Meanwhile, two-wheeled vehicles amounted to 14 units.