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ine people were killed in a traffic accident on Jl. Panglima Sudirman in Batu, East Java, at around 1 a.m. Thursday. The Daihatsu Taruna car they were in, driven by Anang Kosim, 24, crashed into a tree on the left side of the road as he tried to avoid an oncoming motorcycle.

The victims, returning from a birthday party at a villa in the Songgoriti resort area, were all university students, including from Malang Islamic University (Unisma), Malang Muhammadiyah University (UMM), Merdeka University (Unmer) and Malang National Institute of Technology (ITN).

They were identified as Anang Kosim from Bali; Imron Rosadi and Rois Udin, both 23, from Lumajang; Firdaus Sastro, 25, from Sumenep; Dwi Kusmoyo, 24, from West Nusa Tenggara; Riani Erniati, 22, and Mutia Soni Agustin, 25, from Pasuruan; Mareta Madani from Malang, and Nia from Sidoarjo.

Mul, an eyewitness and the owner of a stall near the site of the accident, said the car, heading east, was traveling at a high speed.

As it neared the site, the driver tried to avoid hitting an oncoming motorcycle traveling down the middle of the road.

The driver was unable to control the car when it swerved to the left, likely due to the high speed and downward slope of the road, Mul said. He added the car swayed and immediately hit the tree. The front of the car was badly damaged.

Batu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tedjo Wijanarko said police could not yet confirm the cause of accident, only that the driver likely lost control of the vehicle.

"We're still investigating the cause of the accident. The victims' bodies have been sent to Saiful Anwar Hospital in Malang for autopsies," he said.

Three of the nine bodies have been taken by their families for burial, while six others are still at the hospital morgue. Most of the victims sustained serious cranial injuries.

Malang Police traffic division chief Comr. Yandri said the police still remained unsure about the cause of the grisly accident. He added they were still waiting for the complete autopsy results.