Horrifying Accident Facts at Ciawi Toll Gate, Suspected Brake Failure to Vehicles Catching Fire

Kapanlagi.com - A horrifying tragedy occurred at the Toll Gate (GT) Ciawi, Bogor City, West Java, on Tuesday night (4/2/2025) around 11:30 PM WIB. A large truck carrying gallons allegedly experienced brake failure, and in an instant, crashed into a line of vehicles waiting at the toll gate. This incident resulted in eight lives lost, while eleven others suffered injuries of varying degrees of severity. Not only that, three vehicles caught fire and three others were severely damaged due to this devastating collision.

The nighttime accident quickly drew attention from the police and medical teams. The injured victims were immediately rushed to Ciawi Regional General Hospital (RSUD) for intensive care. In addition to the fatalities and injuries, the toll gate structure also suffered severe damage from the impact of the out-of-control truck.

Bogor City Police Chief, Kombes Eko Prasetyo, explained that the accident was suspected to be caused by the truck's braking system not functioning properly.

“It is suspected that the vehicle experienced brake failure (brake malfunction) which caused it to crash into the line of vehicles that were making e-toll payment transactions,” he explained, quoted from ANTARA, Wednesday (5/2/2025).

Here is the chronology and facts related to this fatal accident.

1. Moments of the Accident: Truck Speeds Out of Control

A horrifying incident occurred when a gallon-carrying truck sped from Ciawi towards Jakarta, without reducing speed as it approached the toll gate. It is suspected that a brake system failure left the driver powerless to stop the truck that was sliding out of control.

In an instant, the truck crashed into a line of vehicles waiting to transact, creating a tremendous impact that immediately caused three cars to catch fire intensely, while three others sustained severe damage.

The rapidly spreading flames added to the chaos, complicating the evacuation process, until firefighters were quickly deployed to prevent the fire from spreading to other vehicles in the vicinity.

2. Fatalities and Injured Victims Taken to RSUD Ciawi

This shocking tragedy claimed the lives of eight people by early Wednesday (2/5/2025), while eleven others had to be rushed to RSUD Ciawi with various injuries, ranging from burns due to the flames to severe impacts. Medical teams at the hospital worked tirelessly to care for the victims whose conditions varied from mild to critical.

At the scene, police officers were busy identifying the deceased victims, while anxious family members flocked to the hospital, hoping to receive news about their relatives trapped in this heartbreaking incident.

3. Impact of the Accident: 3 Vehicles Burned, Toll Gate Damaged

This tragic accident not only claimed lives but also left a trail of horrific destruction. Three vehicles that were hit by the truck burned down to sad black skeletons, while the flames could only be extinguished after the firefighting team took action.

Not only that, but the toll gate also suffered from the dreadful impact; part of its structure collapsed due to the hard collision, causing disruptions in the toll transaction system.

In this emergency situation, Jasa Marga officials immediately intervened to repair the damage and evacuate the involved vehicles, while traffic around GT Ciawi experienced long congestion before it was finally cleared by police officers.

4. Cause of the Accident: Suspected Brake Failure on the Gallon-Filled Truck

In a tragic accident that shook the area, initial investigations indicate that brake failure on the truck was the primary cause of the incident. Kombes Eko Prasetyo revealed that this condition caused the driver to lose control while approaching the toll gate.

Heavy-loaded trucks, like the one involved in this accident, are indeed very vulnerable to braking issues, especially if their maintenance is neglected. Moreover, the heavy gallon load further worsened the situation, making it difficult for the truck to stop within a safe distance.

Currently, the police are delving deeper into this case to uncover the exact cause of the accident and investigate the possibility of negligence on the part of the driver or the vehicle owner.

5. Post-Accident Handling Steps

After the shocking accident incident, the police along with Jasa Marga quickly moved to clear the location and evacuate the vehicles involved. Traffic around the Ciawi Toll Gate was temporarily diverted to facilitate the evacuation process.

The investigative team is still working hard to collect evidence and interview witnesses, hoping that the results of this investigation can reveal whether there were any elements of negligence that contributed to the accident.

Meanwhile, the government and toll authorities are expected to conduct a thorough evaluation of the security systems at the toll gates to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

In addition, tightening regulations related to the maintenance of heavy vehicles is also an important step to minimize the risk of accidents due to technical issues such as brake failure.

6. People Also Ask

What are the main causes of the accident at GT Ciawi?

(kpl/rmt)