Police Investigate Human Error and System Issues in Bekasi Train Accident

Police have begun investigating the fatal accident between the Argo Bromo Anggrek train and a KRL at Bekasi Timur Station, which caused 16 deaths and dozens of injuries. The Head of Public Relations for Metro Jaya Police, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, stated that they are still examining allegations of human error or communication system disruptions in railway operations in the incident. “Whether this is related to human error or system issues. Everything will be traced through witness examinations, evidence, and crime scene processing,” he said in a written statement on Wednesday (29/4). Budi said they are also coordinating with KAI and the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) in investigating the accident case. “Currently under investigation, coordinating with KAI and KNKT,” he said. Budi explained that the investigation process is being conducted to uncover the exact cause of the fatal accident that occurred on Monday (27/4) night. “This is a concern for us all. Currently, investigators are still comprehensively examining the sequence of events,” he clarified. On the other hand, Budi mentioned that they are also providing medical and psychological support to the victims and affected families. He urged the public not to disseminate sensitive content related to victims to maintain empathy. “We urge the public to be careful when crossing railway tracks and always prioritise train travel. In addition, do not share photos or videos of victims as it can have a psychological impact on families,” he said. Based on an official statement from the Ministry of Transportation, the incident began when a KRL train on the Bekasi-Cikarang route was stuck on the JPL 85 level crossing. As a result of the incident, the KRL train had to be evacuated and designated as an Extraordinary Journey (PLB) with code 5181 because it stopped and operated outside the regular schedule. As a consequence of the event, officers stopped another KRL train with code PLB 5568 heading to Cikarang at the Bekasi Timur Station platform. However, the Argo Bromo Anggrek train (Train 4) on the Jakarta-Surabaya route did not manage to stop completely, resulting in a collision with the stationary PLB 5568 train. As a result of the incident, 16 KRL passengers died. Meanwhile, 90 other passengers sustained injuries and are receiving medical treatment.