The police have revealed that the car involved in the tragic incident at SDN Kalibaru 01, Cilincing, North Jakarta, which struck both students and teachers, was traveling at a speed of 19.7 kilometers per hour. This crucial detail emerged from the ongoing investigation into the devastating school accident.
AKP Danu Sukmo Prakoso, Deputy Head of Traffic at the North Jakarta Metro Police, clarified that this speed was meticulously calculated by investigators. The measurement encompassed the vehicle’s trajectory from the moment it first collided with the school fence up to when it eventually struck multiple students within the premises. “At the point where it came to a halt, the investigation results from the Traffic Accident Analysis (TAA) indicate a speed of 19.7 km per hour,” Danu informed reporters on Friday (12/12).
He further stated that the driver, identified as Adi Irawan, claimed to have attempted to brake when the car became uncontrollable. “Regarding the braking efforts, the individual’s statement confirms he attempted to brake until the vehicle stopped at the crash site,” Danu explained, adding, “There were indeed braking marks present.” This suggests an effort, albeit ultimately insufficient, to regain control.
Mistaken Pedal Application Leads to Catastrophe
Kompol Onkoseno Grandiarso, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at the North Jakarta Metro Police, corroborated the driver’s account, stating that Adi Irawan admitted to pressing the wrong pedal, which directly led to the vehicle losing control. “Yes, based on the information provided, the individual stated he mistakenly pressed the pedal,” Onkoseno confirmed.
He elaborated, “He was supposed to press the brake pedal when he intended to stop, but he mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead.” This critical error immediately caused Adi to panic, according to Onkoseno, resulting in him losing all control and crashing directly into the school grounds. “Due to panic, he eventually lost the ability to control the vehicle,” Onkoseno explained. “He tried to swerve it to the left, reasoning that there were many people ahead of him. He attempted to move as far left as possible to avoid that crowd.” Despite these desperate attempts, the negligent driving led to severe consequences.
The investigation further revealed a significant factor contributing to Adi’s negligence: severe sleep deprivation. Police findings indicated that Adi had only slept for a mere 1.5 hours before getting behind the wheel of the vehicle involved in the SDN Kalibaru 01 accident. This profound lack of rest undoubtedly impaired his judgment and reaction time. Consequently, Adi has been charged as a suspect. He faces charges under Article 360, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), which pertains to negligence causing serious injury, carrying a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison for the car crash in North Jakarta.
Summary
The car involved in the tragic accident at SDN Kalibaru 01 in North Jakarta was traveling at 19.7 km/h when it came to a halt after striking students and teachers. Investigations revealed that the driver, Adi Irawan, mistakenly pressed the accelerator pedal instead of the brake, causing the vehicle to lose control. He claimed to have attempted to brake and swerve, with braking marks observed at the scene, but ultimately crashed into the school grounds.
A crucial contributing factor to the incident was Adi Irawan’s severe sleep deprivation, having slept only 1.5 hours before driving. This profound lack of rest likely impaired his judgment and reaction time. Adi Irawan has been charged as a suspect under Article 360, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, facing a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison for negligence causing serious injury.