A Spanish citizen was arrested in Bali after a fatal moped crash. The incident occurred on Tuesday, 11th October, at 10.30 AM. The crash happened in Batukandik Village on the island of Nusa Penida. While the Spanish citizen is believed to have escaped the crash without serious injury, a 52-year-old local man died at the scene.
The Nusa Penida Police have assigned the case to the Klungkung Regency Police Traffic Unit. The victim has been named as Bendesa Adat Kertabuana (Traditional Village Leader), I Nengah Merta Gunada. According to local reports, the Spanish citizen, known as 34-year-old RA, was driving his moped with his partner riding as a passenger. The couple was driving towards Buyuk Harbor when he turned right at a T-junction. At the same time, Bendesa Adat Kertabuana was approaching the junction from the west. Local reports suggest that the collision was unavoidable.
It has been confirmed that Bendesa Adat Kertabuana died at the scene due to his head injuries. Confirming the arrest and the opening of the case to the press on Wednesday, 12th October, the Head of the Nusa Penida Police, Kompol I Gede Redastra, told reporters, ‘We have delegated the handling of this case to the Klungkung Police Traffic Unit’.
The Head of Klungkung Traffic Police had little to share with the media at the announcement. AKP Wahyu Joko Nugroho simply said, ‘We have secured the foreigners involved in the collision’. He also stated that there would be an initial hearing on the case on Thursday, 13th October. Neither Kompol I Gede Redastra nor AKP Wahyu Joko Nugroho said whether RA has been charged with a crime.
There is CCTV footage of the collision though it has not been made public whether the police will be calling the footage in for evidence. Depending on how prosecutors view the footage RA could face a jail sentence for causing death by dangerous driving or even manslaughter. Given that I Nengah Merta Gunada was the head of his village, the case will likely be taken to the highest court if justice is sought for his death.
Collisions in Nusa Penida have been increasing in recent weeks. There have been calls from local communities directed to tourism taxi drivers to slow down on village roads. Communities spoke with local reporters late last month to share their experience of taxi drivers speeding through their homes. They confirmed that there had been dozens of collisions with taxi drivers colliding with local drivers, hitting pedestrians, livestock, and pets.
The Head of Nusa Penida sub-district, I Komang Widyasa Putra, confirmed that action was being taken to address the issue. He said that he and his teams had called the tourism driver association in for talks to see how best to move forward. The Regent of Klungkung, I Nyoman Suwirta, also confirmed reports that the problem is being taken seriously from a local government level.
Putra told reporters, ‘We, the leadership [team], hold meetings every quarter. We will make this issue one of the [talking points]…Furthermore, I will coordinate with related parties, in this case, the police. As an evaluation, it is necessary to control the skills of the driver as well’.
Since the public complaints about speeding drivers and the statement made by officials in Nusa Pendia, it seems that taxi drivers have heeded their warnings. No further complaints have been reported, nor any collisions caused by taxi drivers. While the incident concerning RA and the death of Bendesa Adat Kertabuana, I Nengah Merta Gunada, has not been attributed to either party speeding, the community has been shaken by the event and hope that all drivers on the Nusa Islands will drive with more caution moving forward.
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Lynne Chelin
Friday 14th of October 2022
I feel that there should be more control of the renting of these scooters,so many of these tourists have never ridden on scooter before,so that,coupled with the hectic traffic plus not knowing the rules of the roads in Bali,this is destined to end up in lots of accidents.
jayrod
Sunday 16th of October 2022
@Lynne Chelin, You got your third point wrong. Never ridden a scooter before and hectic traffic are definitely major factors. But there are no rules to riding there. At least nothing in the sense of like riding back in their own countries.
Karen
Friday 14th of October 2022
People are not competent drivers, indo are brain coocked, very dangerous place.
Randy
Saturday 15th of October 2022
@Karen, So you are a Karen and assuming the blame always fall on the the locals. If the foreigner caused the accident and presumably innocent a CCTV at the scene could determine who was at fault. And assuming he did not run away from a scene of a fatal accident.
Randy
Saturday 15th of October 2022
@Karen, so you are a Karen and assuming the blame always fall on the the locals. If the foreigner caused the accident and presumably innocent why did he run away from a scene of an accident. Its called hit and run in the West.
Exp
Friday 14th of October 2022
An unfortunate demise for the village head.
Quote "It has been confirmed that [the man] died at the scene due to his head injuries." Question: Was he wearing a SNI approved helmet as per Indonesian law? If not, even a minor fall can be fatal.
If there is (still) a CCTV footage available the case should be clear. If not, the locals will have huge leverage on their side putting huge pressure on the tourists even if they are at no fault.
If they are lucky the case do not reach national news; A "mediation" will be possible, no charges but involving huge cash compensation to "involved" parties, apologies, swift deportation etc. Keyword is "we will help you".
Dirk
Friday 9th of December 2022
@jayrod, Spot-on. Mob mentality is highly likely in this event. Although in the article, I did not see that the Spanierd fled the scene.
jayrod
Sunday 16th of October 2022
@Randy, You musn't be aware that as a foreigner,if you're involved in a traffic accident that results in serious injury or death in Indonesia,the best course of action to take,if able,is to not remain at the scene but to go directly to the nearest police station and report the incident there. This is even a recommendation in some countries official advice regarding foreign affairs while a citizen is there. That way you avoid possible mob justice from local bystanders. At the scene of an accident involving a foreigner,it's nearly always their fault,even if it isn't really. And when locals get hurt in the accident,then other locals may well hurt the foreigner they blame for it. Especially if they're family or friends of the victim.
Yuoku
Sunday 16th of October 2022
@Randy, where does it say he ran away from the accident?
Randy
Saturday 15th of October 2022
@Yuoku, correction. There is a CCTV but will that used in solving the accident. The spaniard escaped without any injuries. But hopefully the mediation can be done without further escalation where both parties can find a solution.
Randy
Saturday 15th of October 2022
@Yuoku, sure always blame the locals because the foreigners are so entitled here. How do you know he is innocent and why run away from the scene of a fatal accident. Its called hit and run in the West. If he did cause the accident he should not be a coward.
Col
Friday 14th of October 2022
Head injury? No helmet?
Wayan Bo
Friday 14th of October 2022
R.I.P.
Torero