A pickup truck carrying guests home from a wedding was crushed between two trucks on a busy highway on Indonesia’s main island of Java, killing 13 people and injuring five others, authorities said Monday.
The deadly collision occurred Sunday afternoon along the northern coastal highway near Kiajaran Kulon village in Indramayu Regency, where the victims were returning from a wedding celebration in neighboring Parean village.
Local traffic police chief Undang Syarif Hidayat said the victims were traveling in an open bed pickup truck when the vehicle slowed near a break in the highway median to make a U turn.
A wing box truck traveling in the same direction slammed into the rear of the pickup, forcing it into the opposite lane, where it was struck by another truck.
“The impact pushed the pickup into the opposite lane where it was hit again by another truck,” Hidayat said.
“The powerful collision hurled more than a dozen people from the pickup truck onto the highway.”
Emergency responders rushed victims to nearby hospitals, but 13 people died from their injuries. Five survivors remain hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to serious, police said.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Preliminary findings indicate the pickup had slowed while preparing to turn through an opening in the highway median when the collision occurred.
The driver of the cargo truck, identified by local media as Deden Ibad, said he was unable to stop in time after the pickup unexpectedly slowed.
“I was devastated to see the victims lying on the road,” he told reporters. “The vehicle in front of me suddenly stopped as it was about to turn right.”
Earlier local reports cited a lower death toll as victims were transported to separate hospitals. Police later confirmed that 13 people had died, making it one of Indonesia’s deadliest road accidents this year involving passengers traveling in the back of a pickup truck.
Traffic investigators remained at the scene gathering evidence and examining vehicle damage as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Indonesia continues to experience a high number of fatal road accidents, with authorities frequently attributing crashes to overloaded vehicles, inadequate road infrastructure and poor compliance with traffic safety regulations.
The latest tragedy has once again drawn attention to the widespread practice of transporting passengers in open cargo vehicles, particularly in rural communities where pickups are often used for family gatherings, ceremonies and other community events despite the increased safety risks.
Road safety advocates have long urged stricter enforcement of passenger transportation rules and greater investment in safer public transport options. The crash is likely to renew calls for stronger oversight of commercial and private vehicles using Indonesia’s heavily traveled highways, especially during weekends and holiday periods when traffic volumes increase significantly.
What We Know So Far
Police say the pickup truck was carrying wedding guests home when it was struck from behind by a cargo truck and pushed into oncoming traffic, where another truck collided with it. Thirteen people were killed and five others remain hospitalized.
What Authorities Are Saying
Investigators are examining the circumstances leading to the collision, including the movements of all three vehicles before the crash. Police have not yet announced whether any criminal charges will be filed as the investigation continues.
Why This Matters
Deadly road accidents remain a major public safety challenge in Indonesia. The continued use of open bed pickup trucks to transport large groups of passengers has contributed to numerous fatal crashes, particularly in rural areas where safer transportation alternatives are limited.
What Happens Next
Authorities will complete a forensic investigation into the crash and determine whether driver negligence, road conditions or other factors contributed to the collision. The findings could influence future road safety enforcement and transportation regulations.
