Police Hunt For Bus Driver Who Escaped After Crashing Flyover In Padang Panjang

A passenger bus was wrecked after hitting a flyover in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra (ANTARA/HO personal document)

PADANG - The Padang Panjang City Police Team, West Sumatra, is still hunting for a passenger bus driver after crashing into a flyover in Padang Panjang. Dozens of people were injured in this single accident.

Padang Panjang Police Chief AKBP Novianto Taryono said the bus driver fled and is still being searched.

"The bus driver fled after the accident occurred and we are still searching," he said, quoted by Antara, Sunday, January 30.

Meanwhile, 17 passengers who were victims and suffered injuries have been evacuated by officers. Two people are currently being treated at the Padang Panjang Hospital and 15 people have been transferred to another bus to continue their journey to their destination.

"Meanwhile, the bus itself has been evacuated by officers. Everything is at the Polres at this time," he said.

Previously, a passenger bus PT Sipirok Nauli Nopol BB 7626 LH from Medan City to Jambi City hit an overpass in Padang Panjang City, in the morning.

The Head of Public Relations of the West Sumatra Police, Kombes Satake Bayu, said the accident occurred at Jalan Soekarno Hatta Simpang Lapan, Padang Panjang City at around 06.00 WIB.

The bus belonging to PT Sipirok Nauli Nopol BB 7626 LH driven by Manalu came from the direction of Bukittinggi to the City of Padang until at the scene the driver did not know the route and entered the wrong route because the road can only be passed by vehicles with a maximum height of 2.2 meters.

The driver who came at high speed directly hit the flyover and damaged the bus. In addition, the driver and 17 other passengers suffered injuries.

"There were no fatalities, but the passengers suffered injuries due to the hard impact which caused the top of the car to be missing," he said.