Tracing The Cipali Toll Road "Death" Kilometer List

Ilustrasi (Raga Granada / YOU)

In the previous article we have reviewed what makes the Cipali Toll Road so prone to accidents. To avoid this, we will trace the hot spots of the toll road. The writing of VOI's signature series, "Be careful in Cipali," is a list of the kilometers most prone to accidents on the Cipali Toll Road.

The Cipali toll road is one of the most vulnerable expressways in Indonesia. There are kilometers (KM) points that are often the places of accidents. Many people think that the tragedy of death happened in an instant. For this reason, there are not a few who associate it with mystical things. So which KM is the most vulnerable?

Actually, according to transportation expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Ofyar Z Tamim, there are three factors that cause accident-prone Cipali. Among other things, design errors, vehicle, and driver conditions.

"The conditions of drivers are tired, sleepy, to drivers chasing the rails. They force themselves to drive in conditions that are not fit. However, when the three factors meet, that is often the cause of accidents," said Ofyar.

Since the beginning, the Cipali Toll Road has become a scourge for motorists. Because there have been many victims and lives lost as a result of the series of accidents that have occurred on the 116 KM long toll road. However, most accidents are found in certain km with roads that tend to be straight and saturated. The following is a list of the most vulnerable KM on the Cipali Toll.

Cipali Toll Road (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

First, KM 178. Quoted from Merdeka, the deadliest accident that has ever happened to this KM. In mid-2015, a Gran Max minibus numbered E 1720 MX crashed into a truck parked on the shoulder of the road. Instantly, the vehicle immediately caught fire. In the car there were 11 passengers, seven of whom were killed.

Second, KM 94. In mid-June 2015, there was a terrible accident that claimed two lives on the same day. Based on the information from the West Java Regional Police, at that time the accident occurred because there was indeed a reflector that had not been installed. West Java Police Chief Inspector General Pol Moechgiyarto also admitted that among several accident-prone points, KM 94 was one of them.

Third, KM 85. This point is that drivers going to Palimanan are constantly reminded by the authorities to always be careful. Because, KM is one of the most cloudy points. What makes it vulnerable is that there is a monotonous straight road. Not infrequently many motorists daydream and then lose their focus on driving until an accident occurs.

Fourth, KM 82 + 800. It has not been a week since the Cipali Toll Road was inaugurated, this Km has claimed many lives. A victim driving a box truck with police number L 9821 F hit the back of a sand truck at KM 82 + 800. After that, many accidents happened at that point. The police even appealed to motorists to always be vigilant when passing the km.

Mystically attached

Because of the pattern of the accidents that occurred at KM, not a few people associate it with mystical things. One of the many magical stories circulating is the mystery of the Bleneng stone.

The presence of the Bleneng stone is believed by many to be a factor in the occurrence of many accidents. The location of this stone is indeed perched right on the edge of the toll road.

Infographics (VOI / Raga Granada)

If driving from the Jakarta-Palimanan direction, Bleneng stone is on the right side, but if the Cirebon direction is on the left side. The existence of the stone is often associated with a mystical story on the Cipali Toll Road. As a result, many believe that there are spirits who inhabit the stone.

In fact, at first the story only originated from rumors related to toll road construction. It is said that there was once a toll road worker who died while trying to destroy Batu Bleneng using heavy equipment.

Launching Otosia, it was said that the Bleneng stone could not be moved by the employee. Local residents believe that the Bleneng stone clogs the source of a giant spring, where if the stone is lifted, water will gush without stopping. In other words, some residents considered the stone a "guard" of the surrounding area.

Then, as there were many accidents on the Cipali Toll Road, many people connected with mystical stories. Some believe that the "watchman" of Batu Blendengan is indeed looking for 100 sacrifices because they have disturbed the residence of these supernatural beings.

However, the Deputy Director of PT Lintas Marga who runs Cipali, Hudaya Arianto, rejects the claim. Hudaya revealed that the Cipali Toll Road should have gone straight. However, there are things that make the route have to turn, none other than a request from an Islamic boarding school.

"If you pay attention, the road should be straight, but there are pesanten there. In the past, when the design was made it avoided that, "said Hudaya as quoted by Detik.

Hudaya explained that he has nothing to do with mystical or magical things, especially with the Bleneng stone. The shift in lanes became a turn because the pesantren did not want to be given a profit. Finally the line was turned. Things related to mystical stories are nothing more than the stories of the people.