Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) is investigating an accident involving an armored personnel carrier and dozens of pre-school children in Purworejo, Central Java, which killed one officer and the school’s principal.

“Kostrad are claiming the responsibility to investigate the accident and prevent it from happening again,” Lt. Col. Inf. Putra Widyawinaya, Kostrad spokesperson, said in a press release released on Sunday.

The Kostrad base in Purworejo received dozens of preschool children on Saturday as part of a field trip that allowed them to ride in armored personnel carriers.

One was traveling along the Bogowonto riverbank at around 10 a.m. when it went over an area of weak soil, causing the vehicle to tilt and roll over.

“Some of the passengers fell into the river and was carried away by the strong current,” Putra explained.

Pvt. Randi Suryadi and Ananda Preschool principal Iswandari drowned in the incident.

Randi had managed to save several children before he succumbed to exhaustion and was carried away by the current.

“Kostrad offers its condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the public,” Putra said.  (evi)