Sleepy driver plunges minivan into river

A Suzuki APV Arena plunged into Logawa River in Patikraja, Banyumas, Central Java on Wednesday morning after its driver, Suwarno, 37, had apparently fallen asleep while driving past a bridge connecting Purwokerto to Bandung.

No fatalities or injuries were reported in the incident as the driver, the sole occupant, managed to escape the sinking van.

“I had driven my wife to her village in Banjarnegara to attend the 40-day commemoration ceremony for her deceased mother. I planned to return to Jakarta and departed from Banjarnegara at 5 a.m.,” Suwarno, a resident of Depok, was quoted as saying by Antara.

He admitted that he had only had three hours sleep in Banjarnegara after driving for many hours.

“I was fortunate that I didn't lock my van so that I managed to get out and reported the incident to the nearby police station,” he said.

Patikraja police station chief Comr. Supriyanto said the traffic police had sent two tow trucks to recover the vehicle from the riverbed. (dmr)