Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A truck was set on fire and dozens of others were damaged by angry residents in Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Thursday (November 7, 2024), following a tragic child hit incident where an elementary school girl was struck and run over by a dump truck.
According to reports from Detik, the accident involved a 9-year-old girl named Alika, who sustained severe injuries when she was hit by a truck carrying soil. The incident took place on Thursday morning along Jalan Raya Salembaran, near the Romauli car wash in Kampung Melayu Timur Village, Teluk Naga District.
Chief of Metro Tangerang City Police, Senior Commissioner Zain Dwi Nugroho, stated that Alika sustained severe injuries, with her left leg crushed after she fell and was run over by the truck’s front left tire.
The severely injured child was immediately rushed to Tangerang District General Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Meanwhile, the truck driver, identified as DWA, was taken into police custody for further investigation.
Community Outrage and Retaliation
In the wake of the accident, tensions quickly escalated in the community. Gelora reported that furious residents not only set fire to the truck involved but also damaged 22 of other trucks passing through the area.
Residents expressed their outrage, citing a history of repeated accidents involving heavy trucks in their area, often resulting in casualties. They blame the frequent accidents on trucks operating outside the hours permitted by local regulations.
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Under Tangerang Regency Regulation No. 12 of 2022, heavy trucks are restricted to operating between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on certain roads. However, residents claim many companies ignore these restrictions, leading to hazardous road conditions during the day.
According to tvOne, there have been multiple accidents in Tangerang Regency this year alone, resulting in 34 casualties involving trucks operating outside their permitted hours, which has fueled residents’ growing frustration.
Calls for Stricter Enforcement
The incident has reignited calls from the community for stricter enforcement of the operational hours set for heavy trucks. Residents are demanding that the local government uphold these regulations to prevent further accidents.
Police officers from Metro Tangerang City Police were deployed to the scene in an effort to mediate and calm the situation, but tensions remained high, and no immediate resolution was achieved.
The residents are urging the Tangerang Regency government to take immediate action against companies that violate the operational restrictions, insisting on stricter enforcement to ensure road safety for the community.
(Raidi/Agung)
