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)