Police to question driver following Vanessa Angel’s fatal crash

Indonesian authorities are investigating the fatal crash that took the life of celebrity Vanessa Angel and her husband, with their driver entering the list of possible suspects after a screen recording of his Instagram story presumably taken before the accident went viral. 

Vanessa and Febri “Bibi” Andriansyah died on site in the single-vehicle collision yesterday afternoon, while three other passengers ⁠— including their toddler son Gala ⁠— sustained injuries. The white Pajero SUV driven by a man identified as TJ hit a concrete divider on the left side of the toll road, before it bounced off and spun around, and then coming to a stop. Authorities yesterday said the driver had lost control of the vehicle because he was drowsy. 

Also Read ⁠— Indonesian celeb Vanessa Angel and husband killed in East Java highway accident

Gala, his caretaker Siska, and TJ were immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment. Gala is reportedly stable, though he sustained bruises on his head and eyes. The toddler has since been moved from a hospital in Nganjuk to one in Surabaya, as per his family’s request. 

According to reports, TJ worked as Vanessa’s assistant in the last two years, though he has also dabbled as a photographer for other celebrities. 

As seen in a screen recording of TJ’s recent Instagram stories, the driver appeared to have taken a video from behind the wheel, showing the vehicle zooming through the highway some time before the tragedy occurred. The video is no longer available on TJ’s feed.

Usman Latif, who heads East Java Police’s Traffic Directorate, said TJ will be questioned about the video, after which he could potentially be charged with negligence in the case. However, police say TJ is still suffering from physical and mental trauma, and his questioning will be carried out once he is deemed able.

Meanwhile, police are also conducting a reconstruction of the incident, with East Java Police’s Highway Patrol Unit Chief Dwi Sumrahadi indicating today that the analysis might take more than a week to complete.