Six killed, nine injured as train smashes into crowd<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
At least six people were killed and nine others seriously injured
\nwhen a passenger train smashed into a crowd gathered along the
\ntracks between Jatinegara station in East Jakarta and Manggarai
\nstation in South Jakarta early on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n
The Greater Jakarta operations spokesman for state-owned
\nrailroad company PT KA, Sujadi, said the victims were customers
\nat small shops selling alcoholic drinks near the tracks in
\nKampung Gunung Antang, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said an Argo Muria executive train traveling from Semarang,
\nCentral Java, to Gambir station in Central Jakarta, rammed into
\nthe crowd at 2:48 a.m.<\/p>\n
Sujadi said the victims apparently did not hear the
\napproaching train because of load music being played at the
\nstalls.<\/p>\n
\"Some of the victims apparently were drunk and did not realize
\nthey were sitting on the tracks. As the train approached they
\njust sat there, apparently unable to move or unaware of the
\ndanger,\" said Sujadi.<\/p>\n
The nine injured victims were taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nGeneral Hospital in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
It is common for small stalls to open up at night along the
\nrailway tracks in Jakarta. The stalls serve alcohol and are
\nfrequented by prostitutes.<\/p>\n
The railroad tracks that run through Tanah Abang, Central
\nJakarta, and Pasar Rumput, South Jakarta, are known for this
\nparticular form of nightlife. The city administration has
\nconducted numerous raids to shut down the illegal stalls, but as
\nsoon as the authorities leave the stalls reopen.<\/p>\n
Of the six people who died in Tuesday's accident, only three
\nhave been identified. They are Sarti, 30, Rohata, 40, and Amsyah,
\n40.<\/p>\n
Local community leader Murdan said the three lived in the area
\nand worked as prostitutes at the stalls.<\/p>\n
\"They were prostitutes and worked at the stalls every night,\"
\nhe was quoted as saying by Detikcom.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said police had
\nquestioned three people about the accident and planned to pick up
\nthe train engineer and his assistant for questioning.<\/p>\n
\"Our officers have examined the accident site. They also
\nquestioned a station master, a train monitor and the head of the
\ntrain route as witnesses. We will wait for information from the
\ntrain engineer before deciding whether to name any suspects,\"
\nTjiptono told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said officers had learned that the train had been rerouted
\nto another track because the other two tracks that run through
\nthe area were being repaired.<\/p>",
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