That morning, before the sun had fully risen, a fifteen-year-old boy was getting ready to leave for school. His namewas Johan, the youngest child of the Philipus family. The sky was still dark, the streets were quiet, the air was cold,and the streetlights were the only source of light that morning. However, no one could have imagined that on such a calm morning, an accident would change his life and his family’s in an instant.
Johan was used to leaving early in the morning before the sun lit up the sky. The distance between Johan’s school and home was about twelve kilometers. Therefore, Johan always wanted to leave early, “Because if I leave after 5:30a.m., the roads will definitely be crowded and congested,” he said. Moreover, Johan disliked and never wanted to be late for class. Johan was already dressed in his Tuesday uniform, a batik shirt and black pants. He packed his lunch from his mother, started his motorcycle, put on his helmet, and said goodbye to his mother and sister.
Before leaving, he always prayed to God that his journey would be safe until he reached his destination. Johan was also always careful when driving, but his caution was not enough to avoid the danger that was rapidly approaching from the opposite direction. Johan was close to his school alley; he just needed to cross the street to get there. “It’sunusual that there are no security guards helping people cross. The road is quiet,” said Johan when he arrived in front of his school alley. Johan was ready to cross. He turned on his turn signal, looked left and right, and slowly started his motorcycle.
Unfortunately, a motorcycle was speeding by and hit him from the side, throwing Johan several meters from where he had been. Of course, this was witnessed by several residents who had already started their morning activities. “That was really fast. The sound was really loud too,” said a shop owner nearby. According to residents, when he was thrown, Johan was still slightly conscious until he finally lost consciousness completely. Residents who witnessed the accident rushed to help. “His son had signaled to turn, but the man’s motorcycle was going too fast,” said another witness. The situation became chaotic that morning, with some women calling for help, while others called anambulance and the police.
Meanwhile at home, Johan’s mother, Tiara, was waiting for his usual message confirming he had arrived safely atschool. Before she knew it, the sun had risen completely, but Johan still hadn’t contacted his mother. Usually, Johan would send a message to let her know that he had arrived at school so that Tiara wouldn’t worry about him. However,suddenly, Tiara’s cell phone displayed an unknown number. Tiara didn’t dare to answer it because she was afraid it was a scam. However, the phone kept ringing until Tiara finally dared to answer it. “Hello, ma’am, is this Johan’s mother? Johan had an accident, ma’am,” said the caller. Tiara couldn’t believe it and thought it was a scam. Tiara only believed it when the number that called her that morning sent a picture of a motorcycle, which was none other than Johan’s wrecked motorcycle. Tiara immediately burst into tears and tried to contact Kavin, her husband.
On the other hand, Johan’s sister, Calista, had just settled into her classroom. She went up to her classroom while waiting for class to start. Calista was just like Johan; she didn’t like being late. “It’s better to wait an hour than be a minute late.” The classroom was still empty, the hallway was still dark, and Calista was already sitting nicely in herseat. However, on that day, Tiara called her. “Sis, Johan had an accident,” Tiara said on the other end, sobbing uncontrollably. Calista, upon hearing such news, unconsciously shed tears.
That day suddenly turned chaotic. Tiara and Calista couldn’t believe what was happening. Calista immediately asked permission to go home because she wasn’t sure she could focus in class. Without waiting long, Tiara headed to the hospital closest to Johan’s school. However, when Tiara arrived, her heart broke even more when she saw that herson was far from okay. His uniform and jacket were covered in red liquid, Johan was still unconscious, and parts of his body had started to swell. Tiara cried even harder because her son’s condition was severe, but the doctors there had not taken any action.
Finally, Tiara decided to take her youngest child to another hospital. A hospital with more complete facilities and faster treatment. After several hours of external and internal examinations, the doctor informed Tiara of Johan’s condition. Tiara tried to strengthen her shoulders; she couldn’t be weak at this moment. Shortly after the examination was completed, the doctors and hospital staff moved Johan to the inpatient ward. Johan’s condition was heartbreaking. His body lay stiff with casts on both hands, a neck brace covering part of his face, and several parts of his bodyswollen. His mouth was still filled with dried blood, and his pulse rose and fell slowly as if he was struggling to recover.
This incident was reported to the police. Residents who witnessed the incident that morning were willing to testify about what happened. They were on Johan’s side. However, the situation became complicated when the police discovered that Johan was only fifteen years old, still a minor, and legally not allowed to ride a motorcycle. On the one hand, the victim clearly suffered serious injuries. However, traffic regulations stipulate that drivers must be legally eligible to drive.
This accident serves as a reminder to many people that the road is never completely safe for anyone. This applies to those who are careful as well as those who are negligent for even a second while driving. Things that are often overlooked by most road users can end in unforgettable tragedies. Local residents hope this incident will open theeyes of drivers, both adults and teenagers, that safety is not just about oneself, but also about others who share the road.
Johan’s experience highlights another reality, namely that parents allow their children to drive vehicles while still underage, even though the rules clearly prohibit it. The road demands discipline from all parties. Obeying traffic signs, reducing speed, driving without rushing, and having a driver’s license. These are not mere rules, but expressions ofconcern for the safety of all lives.
Now, every morning as Calista passes by the area in front of Johan’s school, Calista always remembers how thin the line is between routine and tragedy. On the road, one person’s caution will never be enough if others choose to ignore it. Whether you hit someone or are hit, in the end, both parties suffer injuries.
