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ix people were killed and dozens were injured on Wednesday when a truck sped out of control on a decline, ploughing through 10 motorcycles, a car, another truck, and damaging nine houses before finally hitting an electricity pole.

The deadly accident happened at around 1.00 p.m. on Jl. Uluwatu some 300 meters north of the main gate of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana compound.

The truck driver, Ali Mastur (48), was among the fatalities. The other dead were identified as Lalu Andar (25), Dewa Ayu Citra Widiani (19), Agus Wandi (28), Siran, and Ali Mastur (48). One of the dead had not been identified.

The truck, laden with limestone, was traveling north on at high speed when it reached a narrow downhill section of the road, Denpasar Traffic Police chief Adj. Comr. Aria Bima Viasa said.

The truck driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle, which careened to the right, before smashing through several vehicles, Aria said.

“It hit two motorcyclists first, then it swerved to the right and destroyed a parked car before continuing on its destructive run,” he said.

“We have measured the skid marks the truck left on the road at 87 meters. The implication is that the truck was out of control over that stretch,” he added.

— JP/Ni Komang Erviani