Cement truck plows into wedding tent, kills 16
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Bojonegoro | Wed, 07/13/2011 3:22 PM
An out-of-control truck carrying cement sacks killed 16 people and wounded 13 others when it crashed into a wedding tent in which guests were awaiting the start of a comedic performance, in Bojonegoro, East Java, late on Tuesday night.
According to police officer Adj. Sr. Comr. Widodo, the truck's brakes had failed. The truck, which was carrying sacks of cement, sped downhill, hitting a pick-up truck before crashing into a cement truck carrying wet cement.
The out-of-control truck then smashed into a wedding tent erected in front of a house on the roadside. The truck plowed through the tent, and crashed into the house's kitchen.
Dr. Rizky Satria, who works at the nearby Dr. Soeroto Hospital in Ngawi, said the victims sustained severe injuries.
It was reported that state insurance firm PT Jasa Raharja would pay out Rp 25 million (US$2,925) each to the families of the dead victims, and Rp 10 million each to the wounded.
The police were looking for the drivers of both of the trucks, both of whom fled after the crash.
