Five lives lost in train crash

KENDAL, Central Java: Five people died and two were seriously injured when their van crashed into a train in the Pegandon district on Tuesday evening.

The accident involved a van carrying employees of a plywood firm, PT Kayu Lapis, Antara reported.

The Police Chief of Kendal, Kurnia Ramadhani, said the driver of the van, Siswandi, was unaware of the Jakarta-bound Bangunkarta when he entered an unguarded railway crossing.

The van was plunged 10 meters down the track, killing Siswandi, Tri Purwanti, 25, Rochmat, 29, Rahayatun, 21, and Mundakhir, 27.

Ramadhani said the employees were on their way home from a night shift. The train engineer Maryadi, 38, a resident of Poncol in Semarang, was still being questioned by the police yesterday. (anr)