3 injured in train accident

JAKARTA (JP): Three child passengers were injured, one of whom suffered two broken legs, after an electric commuter train from Tangerang was hit by a diesel train from Rangkas Bitung in the Bandan-Angke area of North Jakarta at about 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Both trains were traveling to the Kota station in North Jakarta.

An officer from the State Railway Company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) said on Sunday that the accident occurred when a passenger of the commuter train from Tangerang "mischievously" pulled the emergency brake cord.

"This caused the train's machinist to stop the train. At the same time, the train from Rangkas Bitung arrived and its machinist could not stop the train in time. So, the accident occurred," Zainal told reporters on Sunday.

"The Central Jakarta Police and PT KAI are still investigating this case. We have no idea who pulled the emergency cord."

Zainal identified two of the victims as Wahyudin, 10, and Dwi Purwanto, 8, adding that the third was still unidentified.

"All three are receiving treatment at the Atmajaya Hospital in Pluit, North Jakarta," Zainal said.

Quoting what the train passengers had told him, Zainal said that passengers of the eight-compartment train from Rangkas Bitung knew something was wrong when they only had one kilometer left to reach the Kota station.

"They were shocked to see a train suddenly stopping on the tracks. One of the compartments of the train from Rangkas Bitung was totally destroyed," Zainal said.

"Wahyudin is the passenger who suffered broken bones in both legs. He is being taken care of."

The last train accident was on Jan. 27 this year which occurred when a commuter train collided with a Kopaja public mini bus at a railway crossing in East Ancol subdistrict, North Jakarta, severely injuring two passengers on the bus.

An officer from the North Jakarta Police precinct said the bus, plying the Senen-Kelapa Gading route, crossed the tracks while the railway gates were being closed. (ylt)