Following a tragic incident over the weekend in Java, Indonesia, where a bus crash claimed the lives of 11 individuals, primarily students, and left dozens injured, local authorities in SUBANG, West Java, attribute the catastrophe to a brake malfunction, as revealed on Monday (May 13).
The ill-fated bus, transporting 57 students and teachers from a high school in Depok back to the city after a graduation trip in Bandung, met tragedy on Saturday evening (May 11) when it crashed at Palasari Village, Ciater, in Subang Regency.
As per police reports, the bus abruptly veered to the right while descending a slope, leading to a collision with an oncoming minibus. The impact forced the vehicle to violently swerve to the left, resulting in it skidding and colliding with three motorcycles.
While investigations into the accident are ongoing, several police officials have voiced suspicions that the bus experienced brake malfunction prior to the crash.
“The brake malfunction could have caused the accident,” stated Mr. Aznal, the head of legal affairs and public relations at the directorate general of land transportation.
A regular KIR test is mandatory for public transportation vehicles and trucks in Indonesia to ensure road safety. The bus driver survived the crash. Mr Sadira, who also goes by one name, also suspects the bus’ brakes were faulty.
Local media reported Mr Sadira as saying that right before the crash, he attempted to stop the bus at an intersection amid heavy traffic.
“At the intersection, there were a lot of comings and goings in the traffic. I tried to stop, applied the brakes but the gear did not work and suddenly the air was gone,” said Mr Sadira as interviewed by Kompas TV.
