Police look into alleged land-clearing smoke in crash

The Central Java Police are investigating a slash-and-burn that created thick smoke, allegedly causing a pile-up collision involving 13 vehicles killing one and injuring 18 others on a toll road in Brebes.

Brebes police chief Adj Sr Comr Faisal Febrianto said on Monday that the accident began when a Toyota SUV driver suddenly braked after having difficulty seeing the Pejagan-Pemalang toll road due to thick smoke at kilometer 253.

The drivers of the other vehicles were not able to respond in time. One of the drivers was killed in the accident.

“We have summoned the toll road operator and owners of the land around the toll road patch,” Faisal said.

According to Faisal, the toll road operator and the highway patrol have held routine patrols, but due to the toll road length of 57.5km, the smoke was not detected before the accident happened.

Separately, Central Java Police head of traffic directorate Sr Comr Agus Suro Nugroho said the police are calling all toll road companies and state-owned toll road operator Jasa Marga to meet and discuss preventive measures for the future.

“We’re calling for not only the management of the toll road, but also the surrounding environment. Let’s not have any more rice straw burning which can create thick smoke, disrupting the toll road traffic,” Agus said. — The Jakarta Post/ANN