SINGAPORE: A 33-year-old Singaporean woman died in a go-karting incident on Indonesian island of Batam on Wednesday (Feb 21).
The incident took place at Golden City Go Kart in Bengkong around 3.30pm local time (4.30pm, Singapore time), reported Berita Mediacorp, quoting Senior Superintendent Zahwani Pandra Arsyad Zahwani Pandra Arsyad of the Riau Islands regional police.
“A witness saw the victim carrying a go-kart car number 14 and making two laps (on the circuit),” according to Mr Zahwani. “The car was driven at high speed and hit the barrier in the go-kart circuit.”
The witness, who Mr Zahwani said worked in the game room, approached the victim and saw that her helmet had been thrown off due to the crash.
It was reported that the witness said the woman’s hair had been caught on one of the wheels of the go-kart.
Indonesian news outlet IDN Times Sumut reported that the victim did not use a hair net as recommended by go-kart operator.
The victim was taken to a clinic, where she was pronounced dead, said Mr Zahwani, adding that 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),” he said, in a statement to local news outlets.
“All operators, when carrying out their duties, must supervise and manage the places visited by tourists.”
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 the family of the deceased.