Metro Mini buses in Jakarta are among the most unregulated public transportation vehicles in the city, in terms of physical appearance, maintenance, and the behavior of their drivers.
This morning, one particularly reckless Metro Mini driver crashed his bus into several vehicles near the Velbak TransJakarta bus stop in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, killing one Go-Jek motorcycle taxi driver.
“At 9:51 am, from Ciledug came two Metro Mini buses racing until one of them lost control,” said South Jakarta Police Chief Mardiaz, as quoted by Kompas today.
The out-of-control bus bumped into a car before it ran over a road divider, hitting two stationary motorcycle taxi drivers on the opposite lane. One of the drivers, identified as 49-year-old FX Febriantoro, was killed instantly while the other reportedly suffered severe injuries and has been taken to hospital.
The police have apprehended the bus driver, but have not announced what charges he would face. The police have not yet found the other driver involved in the street race.
The number of old, dilapidated city buses like the Metro Mini and Kopaja have decreased significantly in recent years due to the government’s tougher enforcement of public transportation regulations in the city. The Jakarta Transportation Agency is aiming for all Metro Minis and Kopajas to be off Jakarta’s roads by 2019.
