Lamandau, Indonesia— A crude palm oil tanker overturned at 10:40 a.m. on October 28, 2026, after a chain collision involving three vehicles on the Trans-Kalimantan highway in Lamandau Regency, injuring two drivers.
Police said the tanker was heading from Pangkalan Bun toward Sampit with 16 tons of CPO. It braked hard when a Toyota Hilux pickup stopped suddenly ahead to avoid a pothole near Kilometer 72 in Bulik District. A Fuso dump truck behind failed to stop and slammed into the tanker. The impact pushed the tanker off the shoulder. It tipped onto its side.
The tanker driver, 42, was trapped in the cabin for 20 minutes. His co-driver suffered a fractured shoulder. The Hilux driver had minor bruises. Oil poured from the tank hatch and spread 50 meters down the road. Villagers rushed to scoop oil with buckets before police pushed them back, warning of fire risk.
"The road was slippery after morning rain, and the tanker was heavy, it could not stop in time," said Aiptu Sugeng Riyadi of Lamandau Traffic Police who was at the scene. He said the chain reaction started because vehicles were tailgating at high speed. He confirmed the drivers were sober.
Residents said the stretch near Bulik has been damaged for months. Trucks carrying CPO and logs use it daily. There is no warning sign before the large pothole. "We reported that hole two weeks ago, but no one fixed it," said Yanto, 38, a rubber farmer whose house is 100 meters from the crash. He said three crashes happened there this month.
Fire crews sprayed foam over the spill to prevent ignition. A crane was called from Nanga Bulik, 20 km away, to lift the tanker. Traffic was diverted through a plantation road for three hours. The diversion caused a 2 km jam with dozens of trucks lined up.
The company owning the tanker, PT Sinar Sawit, said it will pay for road cleanup and medical costs. Its manager said the tanker passed inspection last month. Police seized the vehicles for brake checks. The Hilux driver was questioned for sudden braking without hazard lights.
Sleman Regional Hospital? No, Lamandau Regional Hospital said both injured drivers are stable. One will need surgery. Police plan to charge the Fuso driver with negligent driving if brake failure is ruled out. They also plan to summon the public works office about road maintenance.
As of 4 p.m., the tanker was upright but the road remained oily. Police placed cones and poured sand over the spill. They told truck drivers to keep distance and slow down through Bulik. The wreckage clearance continued into the evening.
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