Five die in train collision

BANDUNG, West Java: Five people died and one was seriously injured when two trains collided at dawn yesterday in Purwakarta. The rail traffic connecting Jakarta and Bandung was consequently halted for about ten hours.

The accident took place only 100 meters from the Purwakarta railway station, on the track connecting it with Sadang station. The locomotive of one of the trains was seriously damaged and the five workers inside it died instantly.

Railway company spokesman Wijanarko said in Purwakarta yesterday that the mishap took place because the crew of one of the trains ran a stop sign. "They were probably sleepy," he said.

Those who died were machinist Kaman Maryono, Wahyudin, Rukanda, Rusman and Engkos, while Sukirman, who was seriously injured, is currently being treated at Hasan Sadikin Hospital. (17/swe)