Railway employee admits wrongdoing

PEKALONGAN, Central Java: Sarmidi, 50, a railway employee, acknowledged on Friday that negligence on his part had led to the fatal train accident in Pekalongan recently that killed seven and injured several others.

"I fell asleep at the time, so I forgot to lower the crossing barrier and sound the signal," said Sarmidi, who has worked with state train operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia for 34 years.

Sarmidi was named a suspect following the accident on Tuesday when a train slammed into a packed minivan. -- Antara