Singaporean woman, 33, dies in go-kart accident in Batam
Go-karting operator at Golden Prawn, Bengkong, Batam. (Image: Google Maps)
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SINGAPORE: A Singaporean woman died in a go-karting accident on the Indonesian island of Batam on Wednesday (Feb 21).
She was identified as 33-year-old Arini Mohamed Adinan by Senior Superintendent Zahwani Pandra Arsyad of the Riau Islands regional police.
The accident took place at Golden City Go-Kart in Bengkong at around 3.30pm local time (4.30pm Singapore time), Mr Zahwani told CNA. Ms Arini was on a holiday in Batam with friends and had recently celebrated her birthday, he added.
According to Mr Zahwani, a witness saw Ms Arini driving a go-kart car with the number 14 around the circuit twice, Berita Mediacorp reported.
"There were no problems during the deceased's first round of go-karting. However, go-kart number 14 suddenly crashed into the tyre barrier at high speed. The tyres were not the issue," he said.
The witness, who Mr Zahwani said worked in the game room at the venue, approached Ms Arini and saw that her helmet had been thrown off due to the crash.
While the Indonesian news outlet IDN Times Sumut reported that Ms Arini did not use a hair net as recommended by the go-kart operator, Mr Zahwani said that she was wearing a "shower cap" that came off while she driving the go-kart.
He added that her "very long hair" subsequently got entangled in one of the vehicle's rear tyres, and that this caused her death.
Ms Arini was taken to a nearby clinic, where she was pronounced dead, said Mr Zahwani. Her body was then moved to Budi Kemuliaan Hospital.
"Barelang Resort Police is conducting an investigation. If we find negligence by the operator, legal action will be taken. In principle, operators of tourist attractions should have standard operating procedures that take care of the environment, health and safety (of the visitors)," Mr Zahwani said in a statement to local news outlets.
"All operators, when carrying out their duties, must supervise and manage the places visited by tourists."
Mr Zahwani said that the management of Golden City Go-Kart assisted with the repatriation of Ms Arini's body on Thursday morning.
When asked by CNA, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said its consulate-general in Batam had been offering consular help and support to Ms Arini's family.
