Sleman Bridge Accident Injures Two Drivers, As Multi-Vehicle Collision Shuts Down Kaliabu Crossing

Sleman, Indonesia— A multi-vehicle crash injured at least two drivers at 1:15 p.m. on October 28, 2026, on Kaliabu Bridge, a narrow two-lane crossing that links Godean and Moyudan in Sleman Regency.

Police said three vehicles — a dump truck carrying sand, a Daihatsu pickup, and a Honda Beat motorcycle — collided near the middle of the bridge. The truck braked suddenly to avoid a pothole. The pickup behind hit its rear and spun into the motorcycle lane. All three vehicles were damaged. The bridge railing bent.

The truck driver, 35, suffered chest injuries. The pickup driver, 28, had a broken arm and cuts. The motorcyclist escaped with minor injuries after jumping off. All were taken to Sleman Regional Hospital. Traffic was blocked both ways for 90 minutes. Villagers helped push the motorcycle off the bridge deck.

"The bridge is only six meters wide, there is no room to maneuver when a truck stops," said Aipda Hendro Widodo of Sleman Traffic Police who was at the scene. He said the truck was overloaded and its brakes were weak. Initial tests showed the load exceeded 8 tons. That detail is now in the report.

Kaliabu Bridge has been a problem spot for two years. Residents said the asphalt has deep holes after heavy rain last week. Trucks from a nearby quarry use it daily. No weight limit sign is posted. Last month, a similar crash injured one person. Local leaders sent a letter to the regency asking for repair.

Witness Tri Yulianto, 41, runs a stall near the bridge. He said he heard screeching and then a thud. "The pickup hit the truck and almost fell into the river, it was held by the railing," he said. He said drivers often speed on the approach because the road is straight. He filmed the aftermath on his phone.

Sleman Transportation Agency said it will inspect the bridge structure this week. An engineer said the bent railing needs replacement but the pillars look intact. Police seized the vehicles for inspection. The truck's ownership papers were expired in March. The driver did not have a valid KIR test certificate.

By 3 p.m., a tow truck cleared the wreckage and traffic resumed with police controlling flow. Oil spilled on the deck was covered with sand. Police said they will charge the truck driver with negligence causing injury if the brake test fails.

For now, police placed cones and warned drivers to slow down to 20 kmph on the bridge. Residents want a permanent solution, not just cones.