One killed in crossing accident

One killed in crossing accident

TANGERANG (JP): A man was killed and two others injured when a
speeding train hit two motorcycles at a railway crossing on Jl.
KH Hasanuddin in Batu Ceper here on Friday morning, police and
witnesses said.

Batu Ceper Police subprecinct chief Sn. Insp. Harun Idrus
identified the victim as Muslimin, 47, an ojek (motorcycle taxi)
driver of Kampung Dongkol in Cipondoh. He died on the spot from
head injuries.

His passenger Desi survived with several bruises as she
managed to jump off the motorcycle.

The other injured victim, Muryadi, suffered a broken arm after
the train dragged his body some seven meters. His brother, Edi,
who was sitting on the back of the motorcycle, escaped injury.

While Desi has already been discharged from the Husada Insani
hospital, Muryadi is still being treated for his injuries at the
Tangerang General Hospital.

Witnesses said that the drivers of the motorcycles crossed at
the railway crossing, which has no gates, without looking for any
trains that might be approaching from their left or right sides.

Mulkan, a witness, said: "They didn't notice that a high speed
train coming from the Jakarta direction was approaching at the
time.

"Both people on the back of the motorcycles, Desy and Edi,
managed to jump off when they saw the train coming."

The speeding train, he recalled, dragged Muryadi and Muslimin
along with their motorcycles.

According to Mulkan and other locals, such train accidents
have become regular occurrences at the site due to the absence of
gates at the railway crossing.

When interviewed, Muryadi, the injured victim, said he
immediately warned Edi to jump from the motorbike as soon as he
saw the train speeding towards them.

"I myself attempted to jump but the other driver (Muslimin)
could not," he said.

Officer Harun strongly called on the state-owned company PT
Kereta Api Indonesia to install proper gates at the crossing to
prevent similar accidents from happening again. (41/lup)