TWO JOURNALISTS, DRIVER KILLED IN CENTRAL JAVA TOLL HIGHWAY CRASH

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Two journalists and a driver from the East Jakarta-based TV station tvOne died in an accident early Thursday morning while on their way to cover a story in Gresik, East Java.

According to a statement from tvOne, a truck hit the multi-purpose vehicle carrying the production team of the investigative programme Fakta from behind on the Jakarta-Pemalang toll highway in Central Java, at 6.45 am local time.

The deceased are Marwan, Alwan Syahmidi, and driver Sunardi, all of whom had severe injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene, while the survivors, Felicia Amelinda Dewi Priatna and Geigy Yudhistira, are receiving treatment for their injuries at a nearby hospital in Pemalang.

Felicia recounted the events leading to the incident, saying: “We had previously stopped for dawn prayers at a rest area before continuing our journey.

“While on the road, the front windscreen became somewhat dirty and needed to be cleaned manually, so we stopped on the hard shoulder. Suddenly, we were struck from behind.”

tvOne has sent a team to the scene with its chief editor, Lalu Mara Satriawangsa, travelling to Pemalang to assist with the repatriation of the deceased and support the survivors.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, while tvOne urges the public to remain calm and await further official updates.

-- BERNAMA