Puslabfor investigates alleged electric field causing taxi engine failure on East Bekasi tracks
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, Senior Commissioner Pol Budi Hermanto, stated that the Forensic Laboratory Centre (Puslabfor) will investigate the connection between the engine of a Green SM taxi stopping and the railway crossing, which is said to be charged with electricity, in relation to the train accident case in East Bekasi.
“We need to inform the public about the level crossing of the railway tracks, which is charged with electricity. This would be very dangerous if used to cross the railway tracks that indeed have a magnetic field and an electric field. This will be examined by Puslabfor,” Budi said to reporters in Central Jakarta on Thursday.
Budi explained that the investigation is necessary because the electric taxi shifted to the parking gear (P) position while on the tracks.
“The purpose of Puslabfor is to determine whether there is an influence from the electric field and magnetic field that caused the engine to die. Because it directly changed position to the parking gear. This is still being investigated,” Budi said.
Budi added that the electric taxi driver with initials RRP tested negative for alcohol consumption through a urine test. His status remains as a witness in the fatal accident case that killed 16 passengers.
“Yes, that has been done (urine test), no (alcohol consumption),” Budi said.
Previously, the Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, Senior Commissioner Pol Budi Hermanto, stated that the Green SM electric taxi driver with initials RRP, involved in the accident with a train at the Ampera level crossing in East Bekasi on Monday (27/4), had just started work on his third day at the time of the incident.
“From the statements of the driver or the online taxi driver who has been questioned, the person in question just started working since 25 April 2026,” Budi said at Monas, Central Jakarta, on Thursday.
RRP also admitted to receiving only a one-day brief training before starting work. The training was limited to an introduction to the basic features of the electric car.
“So regarding how to drive, how to start the vehicle, this was just a basic introduction done in one day. How to turn on, turn off the car, as well as how to use the turn signals, park, and so on. This is still being investigated by the investigators,” Budi said.
To date, RRP has undergone two examinations on Tuesday (28/4) and Wednesday (29/4). Nevertheless, his status remains as a witness.
The fatal accident that occurred on Monday (27/4) night killed a total of 16 people and injured dozens of others.
The incident was triggered by the Green SM taxi stalling in the middle of the level crossing due to an electrical system disruption. The vehicle was then hit by a passing KRL.
As a result of the first accident, one Cikarang-bound KRL train set made an emergency stop at East Bekasi Station.
In that stopped position, the KRL train set was then rear-ended by the Argo Bromo Anggrek train.