29-4-2024 (JAKARTA) Dr. Abdul Aziz and Dr. Erysha Kartika, a married couple tragically killed in a fatal motorcycle accident involving a convoy of Harley-Davidson riders near Probolinggo.
The catastrophic collision unfolded around 3 p.m. on Sunday, 28th April 2024, in Banjarsari village, Sumberasih district, Probolinggo regency. Eyewitnesses recount the haunting sight of Dr. Aziz riding pillion with his wife on their black Harley, licence plate B 6363 ZN, as part of a procession originating from the idyllic island of Bali, destined for Surabaya.
According to local resident Rizki Saputra, the catalyst for the calamity was a Yamaha NMax scooter attempting to cross the road, startling the Harley convoy into an emergency brake manoeuvre. Tragically, the sudden deceleration triggered a chain of collisions within the group. Dr. Aziz’s Harley veered right to evade the NMax but collided head-on with an oncoming Innova MPV from the opposite direction.
“The Harley ridden by the couple swerved to avoid the white NMax crossing, but ended up in the opposite lane, where a black Innova was approaching, resulting in the devastating impact,” Rizki solemnly recounted.
Bystanders rushed to aid the grievously injured couple, finding Dr. Aziz lying on the northern side of the road while his wife, Dr. Erysha, was positioned on the southern verge.
Made Sudana, another member of the Harley procession, vividly recalled the harrowing episode. Accompanied by his wife, Sudana had been riding behind the ill-fated couple when the incident transpired. Mercifully, he and his spouse escaped with minor injuries despite being struck from behind by another Harley in the ensuing chaos.
“I witnessed around 3 or 4 Harleys pass ahead when suddenly the brakes were slammed due to the NMax attempting a turn. Bikes went down, and one collided with the Innova. To avoid the mayhem, I steered towards the roadside,” Sudana recounted from the RSUD Tongas Hospital’s emergency ward.
Amidst the pandemonium, the Innova driver, identified as 29-year-old Yohandoko Saputra, initially fled the scene. His vehicle, bearing the registration plate P 1104 HE, sustained severe frontal and rear damage due to the impact with Dr. Aziz’s motorcycle.
Saputra, a resident of Curah Tatal village in Arjasa, Situbondo, admitted to fleeing out of fear of potential mob retaliation stemming from a misunderstanding. He eventually surrendered at the Ketapang Traffic Post, claiming ignorance of any fatalities until that point.
Tony Wahyudi, the regional chairman of the Harley-Davidson Club Indonesia (HDCI) in East Java, confirmed that Dr. Aziz was an esteemed member from the Malang chapter. He clarified that the outing was an informal touring excursion, not an official HDCI event.
Wahyudi conveyed his profound condolences while urging all members to prioritize road safety and emotional restraint during rides to prevent such irreversible tragedies.
In a startling revelation, the Harley-Davidson motorcycle ridden by Dr. Aziz, registration B 6363 ZN, had an expired vehicle registration certificate (STNK) dating back to 2013, with unpaid taxes since 2011. According to Jakarta’s motor vehicle database, the 2003 Electra model owed approximately Rp 3,513,500 in outstanding annual taxes.
