A tourism minibus carrying 13 Chinese nationals overturned after striking a streetlight pole on Jalan Raya Pelabuhan Benoa in Denpasar, Bali, on Friday at approximately 08.45 WITA. The incident involved a single vehicle transporting a group of foreign visitors as part of a tour activity in the area.
According to authorities, the crash occurred when the vehicle was travelling from Nusa Dua in Badung Regency toward Denpasar. The minibus was reportedly using the right fast lane before it suddenly drifted out of its lane.
“The vehicle involved in the Isuzu travel bus traffic accident has police number DK 7728 GA, driven by a man, with the initials ML,” said the Head of the Public Relations Section of the Denpasar Police, Kompol I Ketut Sukadi, in a written statement, Friday.
Driver Believed to Have Fallen Asleep
Police stated that the driver is suspected of having fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to lose stability. The minibus swerved to the right and collided with a streetlight pole located along the route. The impact caused the car to overturn immediately after the collision.
Local police representative Sukadi explained that the vehicle had been operating normally before the crash. He noted that the sudden movement toward the right lane occurred just moments before the minibus hit the pole.
“At high speed upon arrival at the crime scene (crime scene), the driver of the Travel Isuzu DK 7728 GA swerved to the right because he was drowsy, then hit the lamppost, and then the car rolled over,” said Sukadi.
Thirteen Tourists Identified
The passengers were 13 Chinese tourists, accompanied by the driver and a tour guide. Authorities listed the group as including eight women identified by initials ZP (37), LX (30), DS (54), ZM (30), ZX (33), DH (30), CC (29), and JP (35). The remaining five passengers were men identified as PP (30), CR (27), HB (27), ZH (41), and PY (4).
All individuals were travelling together as part of a scheduled visit to several tourism sites in Bali. Officials confirmed that the tour guide, identified by the initial P and aged 33, was also inside the vehicle at the time of the incident.
No Fatalities Reported
Authorities confirmed that there were no fatalities as a result of the crash. The driver, tour guide, and twelve passengers sustained minor injuries. One tourist was confirmed to have escaped uninjured. Emergency responders transported the injured passengers to a nearby hospital to receive medical treatment.
Police have stated that the victims are currently undergoing care at medical facilities and that their injuries are not considered life-threatening. Further assessments will be carried out by medical personnel.
Investigation Ongoing
Police have initiated an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the crash. The preliminary assessment points to driver fatigue as the likely cause, although authorities will continue to review all circumstances surrounding the incident.
