Argolawu train hits minivan

Argolawu train hits minivan

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: The Argolawu executive train bound
to Jakarta from Surakarta hit a village minivan at a railroad
crossing at Kedung Wuluh Lor village, Banyumas district, Central
Java, at noon on Monday. No fatalities were reported.

The minivan was totally wrecked after being dragged about 300
meters, eyewitnesses said.

Local police chief Second Insp. Edy Santoso told reporters at
the accident scene that the minivan, which was traveling to
Cilongok from Patikraja village, stalled on the railroad
crossing, which was not protected by a barrier.

"There were 20 passengers, not including the driver, in the
minivan when it suddenly stalled on the railroad track," Edy
said.

Sugondo, on of the passengers, told The Jakarta Post that some
of the passengers tried to help the driver push the minivan,
while some others, mostly women and children, remained on board.

"About ten people were pushing the van, but it wouldn't move.
We all kept pushing it. We were shocked to see the train speeding
at us from the east. The people on the van then rushed to get off
and two minutes later the train smashed into it," said Sugondo.

Edy said that police had discovered why the minivan had
stalled. "We found that the tie-rod was broken."

The driver, Kirman, 32, who is police custody, said he was not
aware that the tie-rod was broken. (45)