Two Malaysian minivan crash victims identified
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra | Archipelago | Thu, June 28 2012, 6:56 PM
The Simalungun Police have identified two Malaysians who died in a minivan accident near Lake Toba, North Sumatra, on Thursday morning.
The two Malaysians were named as Zaidun bin Badir and Zulkifli bin Muhammad Basir, according to Simalungun Police traffic chief Adj. Comr. Baginda Sitohang.
“The body of Zaidun bin Badir was identified through his passport and Zulkifli bin Muhammad Basir’s through his savings book, both of which we found at the location where the minivan crashed,” Baginda told The Jakarta Post on Thursday afternoon, adding that the identification process of the two Malaysians had finished at 5:30 p.m.
He said the police had coordinated with the Malaysian Consulate General in Medan for the repatriation of the bodies.
Eight passengers, including the two Malaysians, reportedly died at the scene of the accident after the minivan veered off the road at Batu Gantung in Sibaganding village, Simalungun regency.
A child who survived but was critically injured is now being treated at the nearby Parapat Hospital, another three victims who sustained injuries were being treated at Vita Insani Hospital in Pematang Siantar.
Baginda earlier said the bodies of the dead victims were being held at Pematang Siantar Hospital’s morgue.
An official with the local search and rescue agency, James Sinaga, said that the accident occurred at 5 a.m. (mtq)
