Blambangan Express train driver seriously injured in Probolinggo truck collision

Train driver of the Blambangan Express seriously injured after truck collision in Probolinggo

The train driver and the assistant train driver of the Blambangan Express sustained serious injuries in an accident involving Kereta Api (KA) 147 Blambangan Ekspres and a freight truck carrying flour at a level crossing JPL 13 in Jorongan Village, Leces District, Probolinggo Regency, East Java, in the early hours of Friday, 6 March.

The incident, which occurred at around 00:40 Western Indonesian Time (WIB), left the locomotive’s front severely crumpled. The driver was reportedly trapped in the cabin before being rescued by locals and police officers.

Police Chief of Probolinggo Traffic Police (Kasatlantas) Safiq Jundhira Zulkarnaen confirmed that both train crew members were rushed to hospital for intensive care.

“Medical treatment has been provided at RSUD dr Mochammad Saleh in Probolinggo City,” Safiq said on Friday, 6 March.

According to Safiq, although there were no fatalities, the condition of the two members of train crew is serious. The police are continuing to monitor their health while conducting on-site investigations at the scene.

“We are still conducting examinations,” he said.

Earlier, KA 147 Blambangan Ekspres, running from Surabaya Pasar Turi to Ketapang, was reported to have been struck by a truck at a level crossing in Probolinggo, East Java, in the early hours of Friday.

Cahyo Widiantoro, Legal and Public Relations Manager for KAI Daop 9 Jember, said the incident occurred at 00:49 WIB at Km 109+860, specifically at JPL 13, a level crossing that is officially guarded.

“As a result of the incident, the locomotive CC 201 83 53 that was pulling the Blambangan Ekspres sustained damage, and the train’s journey could not immediately continue,” Cahyo said on Friday, 6 March.