Six people died and dozens more were injured when an Isuzu Elf vehicle crashed in Majalengka, West Java, on Monday, March 23, 2026. The incident, which occurred during the Eid al-Fitr holiday travel period, is believed to have been caused by driver fatigue.
The crash took place around 11:05 p.m. Local time on Jalan Raya Panjalu-Cikijing, in the Blok Maniis Tonggoh area of Maniis Village, Cingambul District, Majalengka Regency. According to police, the vehicle was carrying a group of family members from Karawang when the accident occurred.
“The chronology of the incident began when the Isuzu Elf vehicle, driven by Hasyim Adnan, was traveling from Panjalu towards Cikijing,” said AKP Pandu Surya Renata, Traffic Unit Chief of the Majalengka Police. “While navigating a slippery, downhill, and sharply curving section of road in Blok Maniis Tonggoh, the driver was suspected of being drowsy and fatigued.”
The vehicle lost control, swerved to the right, and plunged into a ditch alongside the road, ultimately overturning.
Ratna Wulan, a survivor of the crash, stated that the driver had been operating the vehicle without taking breaks. The group had begun their journey early Sunday morning, around 6:00 a.m., first traveling to Ciamis for a pilgrimage before continuing on to Pangandaran for leisure.
“We left Sunday morning at six o’clock to go to Ciamis for a pilgrimage. We arrived around seven o’clock, and after the pilgrimage, we continued to Pangandaran,” Ratna said.
The group departed Pangandaran around 4:00 p.m. And briefly returned to the Ciamis area that evening to eat and collect belongings before resuming their trip home.
Several passengers had suggested delaying the journey due to the driver’s lack of rest, but the trip continued because the vehicle had already been booked for another rental. “We told him to rest first because he hadn’t had a chance to rest. But the driver wanted to go straight home because the car had already been chartered again,” Ratna explained.
A Cautionary Tale
The tragedy underscores the critical importance of rest for drivers during long journeys. Jusri Pulubuhu, founder and lead instructor at Jakarta Defensive Driving Consulting (JDDC), recommends that drivers take breaks when feeling tired. Pushing through fatigue can lead to decreased reflexes and even microsleep.
“Driving while tired is very dangerous because it can reduce concentration and response time to situations on the road,” Jusri said.
He advises taking a 15-30 minute rest every 2-3 hours during a trip to combat drowsiness, along with light stretching to keep the body relaxed.
“A fatigued driver is more likely to craft mistakes, such as misjudging distance or speed,” Jusri added.
For extended trips, having a backup driver is also recommended. If the primary driver becomes fatigued, a secondary driver can take over.
(rgr/din)
