24 injured in latest train accident in South Jakarta
24 injured in latest train accident in South Jakarta
JAKARTA (JP): At least 24 people were injured in a head-on
collision between a locomotive and an express train in Manggarai
subdistrict in South Jakarta on Wednesday morning.
The accident damaged four of the express train's six cars.
Four of the injured were the drivers and assistants on the two
trains.
It was the second railway accident in two days after a fatal
train-bus collision in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Tuesday
evening.
Most of the passengers of the express train, heading from
Bekasi to Kota Station in West Jakarta, had alighted the train at
Jatinegara Station in East Jakarta.
The chief of Manggarai Station, Sugeng Setiono, said the
locomotive's driver, identified as Tasrih, ignored a red light
and caused the accident.
"The accident happened at about 10:15 a.m.," he added.
Sugeng said the locomotive, heading from Kota to Jatinegara,
had stopped at a track in Manggarai to give way for an Argo Gede
express train bound for Bandung.
"After the Argo Gede passed along the track, this locomotive
just went on without obeying the red-light sign," he said.
Tasrih and driver Tukirjo from the express train together with
their assistants, Soleh and Dirlan, were injured.
Eight passengers in the train's first compartment were
admitted to the emergency unit of the Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital in Central Jakarta.
After being treated for several hours, four of the injured
were discharged.
Dr. B. Situmorang of the hospital's emergency unit said the
remaining four were seriously hurt. Most of them suffered broken
legs.
Passenger Endang Widuri, 18, had open wounds on her left leg
and a blood clot in her lungs.
"The blood in her lungs needs to be removed," Situmorang said.
Three other injured, Yuniarti, Mega, and Ratnaningrum, all in
their 30s, are due to undergo surgery at the hospital.
Twelve other passengers were treated for minor injuries at
Tulus Kartika clinic in Bukit Duri in South Jakarta. Dr. Kesuma
Mulya said they were permitted to leave after receiving
treatment.
Four others received medical treatment at the Air Force
Hospital at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta.
Investigation
Separately, the chairman of state railway company PT KAI's
operations for Greater Jakarta, Masjraul Hidajat, said the cause
of the accident was unknown.
"We still have no idea whether it was caused by human error or
a technical problem. We plan to send a team to investigate and
examine all involved parties in relation to the accident,"
Masjraul said at the accident site.
But a train signal officer agreed with Sugeng that the CC
20320 locomotive ran the red signal.
"It was clearly visible from the control room that the
locomotive moved before any order from the signal room," he said.
Masjraul said PT KAI would cover the medical bills of the
injured passengers.
"We will pay for the injured train employees and passengers,"
he said, adding that coverage by Jasa Raharja insurance company
would also pay some of the medical expenses.
He said the accident was similar to one last month in Tambun,
Bekasi, when a locomotive collided with a Cirebon Express train.
"All employees here took part in training on train safety last
week. And, then, this accident happens today," he said.
"There are already standard procedures on the matter. You
don't move when the light is red."
In a fatal accident on Tuesday, eight personnel of the State
Employees Administration Agency (BAKN) died and dozens suffered
severe injuries when an intercity train crashed into their bus in
South Jakarta.
The accident, which took place at the first U-turn after
Pancasila University, reportedly occurred because an official at
the railroad crossing failed to close the crossing gate despite a
bell signaling the train's approach. (01/05/ylt)