Train crash 'due to human error'<\/p>\n
Agus Maryono and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Brebes\/Cirebon<\/p>\n
Investigators have confirmed their initial assumptions that
\nthe train crash that killed at least 30 people in Brebes, Central
\nJava, on Dec. 25, was caused by human error.<\/p>\n
The team of experts from the National Police forensic
\nlaboratory and the Central Java Police claimed they had so much
\nevidence they were already able to determine the cause of the
\naccident, although their investigation was only 75 percent
\ncomplete.<\/p>\n
They have teamed up with experts from other related fields
\nsuch as railways, transportation, physics and psychology.<\/p>\n
The findings lend credence to the police's earlier decision to
\nname the Empu Jaya driver, Muhammad To'at, 50, as the prime
\nsuspect, as he allegedly ignored traffic signals that led to the
\ncollision.<\/p>\n
The crash, involving the Empu Jaya and the parked Gaya Baru
\nMalam economy trains, occurred at Ketanggungan Barat train
\nstation.<\/p>\n
The findings also shot down To'at's version, given to visiting
\nlegislators last week, that the crash occurred because the
\ntrain's brakes did not work properly.<\/p>\n
Brebes Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Heru Setyawan said that the
\nEmpu Jaya switched tracks 17 seconds too early.<\/p>\n
\"The Empu Jaya rumbled onto Track III where the Gaya Baru
\nMalam was waiting, such that a collision was unavoidable,\" Heru
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Also, when it entered the station, the Empu Jaya was traveling
\nat 85 kilometers per hour (kph), way in excess of the maximum 30
\nkph permissible, according to investigators.<\/p>\n
The investigators had evidence that To'at had applied the
\nbrakes when the Empu Jaya was only 4.9 meters away from the
\npoints. This meant that the speeding Empu Jaya was only 135
\nmeters away from the Gaya Baru Malam, far too close for any
\nmeaningful avoiding action.<\/p>\n
The investigators rejected an earlier theory on possible
\nsabotage that was indicated by the presence of a stone in the
\npoints control system.<\/p>\n
They said that the Australian-made Westinghouse control system
\nwas provided with an alarm that would light up if any object were
\nfound underneath.<\/p>\n
\"So the conclusion seems to be that the Empu Jaya driver
\nignored a red light when entering Ketanggungan Barat station,\"
\nHeru said.<\/p>\n
The investigators rejected all of To'at's key versions of the
\nevent. For example, all the brakes were in perfect condition.<\/p>\n
Aware of suspicions that the police might twist the facts to
\nmatch their initial presumption on the cause of the mishap, Heru
\nchallenged that To'at be accompanied by a psychologist during his
\nquestioning, to be held as soon as he is discharged from the
\nhospital.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the West Java town of Cirebon, hundreds of
\npeople protested on Monday in front of Kejaksaan railway station,
\ndemanding that Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar and State
\nMinister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi step down over
\nthe tragic accident.<\/p>\n
The protesters, claiming to be from the Common People
\nConcerned with Train Affairs (WCKPA) also suggested that railway
\ncompany PT KAI's head office and Cirebon office introduce
\ninternal reform to become more professional.<\/p>\n
Holding up posters, the protesters also prayed for the victims
\nof the Brebes crash.<\/p>\n
One of the posters read: \"Ministers, When Are You Going to
\nQuit?\"<\/p>\n
The coordinator of the demonstration, Imam Musthofa, told The
\nJakarta Post that he intended to draw people's attention to such
\nsocial problems, including the latest series of train accidents.<\/p>\n
The head of Kejaksaan railway station, Bidjak Filsadjati, met
\nthe protesters and promised to convey their demands to PT KAI
\nmanagement.<\/p>\n
The protesters, who started their demonstration at about 7
\np.m., dispersed at 10 p.m. after failing to meet with the head of
\nPT KAI's Cirebon office.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/train-crash-due-to-human-error-1447893297",
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