Overturned Truck Kills Six Persons in Banten

Pandeglang, Banten (Antara) - A truck carrying some 40 Vocational School students overturned on an uphill road at Banten provincial village of Banganga on Saturday, killing six persons, four of them being students. The fatalities were identified as students Mahfud, Rojak, Hamdani alias Tedi and Nurasyiah, in addition to Rizal (driver) and Muklis (truck helper), secretary to Pandeglang District government Dodo Juanda said. The students, from "SMKN 1 Pandeglang", were on their way to the scouts camp ground of Cilurah, Carita sub-district, Dodo said, adding that he hoped this accident would not decrease students' enthusiasm in participating in scout activities. The accident occurred at 3.30 p.m. local time when the truck was traveling from Pandeglang towards Carita sub-district, the official explained. A witness said that the truck swerved, turned over and struck a fence along a residential house. In addition to the fatalities, several students are still being treated in a nearby hospital. (*)