The accident occurred when the Jombang-bound bus tried to overtake another car at a bend in the village while at the same time a truck came from the opposite direction, the chief of traffic unit at Pujon police precinct, Superintendent Sugiman said.
Consequently, the driver of the bus called Puspa Indah turned sharply the wheel to the left and the bus plunged into the ravine, he said.
Meanwhile, the head of traffic unit at the Malang police resort, Adj. Comr. Erwin Aras Genda SIK said the police were still looking into the cause of the accident.
"The bus driver lost control so when the bus met with the truck at the narrow bend the bus ran off the road and plunged into the ravine," he said.
He said the accident also injured 15 other passengers and all of them were taken to a nearby hospital in Kediri district.
Three of the 15 passengers sustained serious injuries and 12 others light injuries, he said.
He said the accident occurred at around 12.00 western Indonesian time.
The three dead victims were identified as Imam Sofii, M Mahsun and Taufik.
Sugiman said two of the three victims died at the scene and one died while he was being taken to the hospital. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
