Lawmaker Theodorus Koekerits dies in car crash

Lawmaker Theodorus Jacob Koekerits died in a traffic accident when the car he was traveling in hit a truck on the Porong-Surabaya highway in East Java on Monday morning.

The accident occurred around 3 a.m., when Theodorus was en route to the Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, tribunnews.com reported.

The driver, Wahyu Wigoro, who survived the accident OR who also died, reportedly attempted to overtake another car but collided with a dump truck.

Theodorus, a Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician, was immediately rushed to Delta Surya Sidoarjo Hospital, and later pronounced dead.

The 50-year-old politician was due to fly back to Jakarta after visiting his constituency in Blitar, Kediri and Tulungagung of East Java.

Theodorus served as a member of the House of Representatives’ Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs and was a member of the House’s budget committee (Banggar).

As of 10:40 a.m., the Sidoardjo Police were still investigating the scene of the accident.

A number of public figures, including Surabaya Deputy Mayor Bambang DH, went to the hospital to pay their respects to the politician, who was also known as Ondos.

Deputy House Speaker Pramono Anung, also a PDI-P politician, said Theodorus was a humble politician.

“He was one of the budget commission members with a modest lifestyle,” said Pramono, who had known Theodorus since studying with him at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in the 1980s.

Theodorus’ remains will be laid out at the House’s building this afternoon before being taken to his house in Tangerang, Banten. (yps/swd)