Three killed, 12 injured in train collision

JAKARTA (JP): Three people were killed and at least 12 others injured after a speeding, empty cargo train rear-ended a passenger train, which had suddenly stopped along railway tracks in the Pinangsia-Ancol area here on Friday afternoon.

Spokesman of state railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Zainal Abidin said the accident occurred at 1:10 p.m. between the three-coach cargo train, which was heading from Kota toward Cilegon to pick up coal, and the four-car Kota-Tangerang electric train. A joint investigation is still underway between his office and the Jakarta Police.

The police are still questioning Sumarno, driver of the passenger train, he added.

"We are still investigating the accident, whether it (the electric train's sudden halt) was caused by a blackout or a train signal error from the closest railway station," Zainal said.

KAI officials and staff of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital both said the victims were KAI employees.

Late in the evening, the officials and hospital sources identified the victims as Midja, 62, a staffer at KAI's Railway Supervision and Construction department for Jakarta Operations, and Pariman, 33, and Toto Hadiyanto, 48, both assistant to driver of the cargo train.

"Midja was standing at the end of the electric train when the collision happened," Head of KAI for Jakarta Operation, Masjraul Hidajat, told reporters at the accident site.

Pariman suffered serious injuries as he was caught between the two trains.

Dozens of KAI employees rushed to the scene to help separate the rear car of the passenger train, which was pinned under the front part of the cargo train, in an effort to find the bodies of their colleagues.

At 8 p.m., the two trains were finally separated.

Hundreds of local residents also flocked to the spot, causing problems for other trains passing along the other railway track at the site.

Several local residents said the Kota-Tangerang electric train was seen to stop suddenly, and, a few minutes later, the cargo train came speeding up from behind and hit its rear car.

A local resident, Fahmi, said: "I heard a loud bang, which caused me to hastily leave my house. I saw many people quickly jumping out of the passenger train."

Of the 12 injured victims, five suffered severe injuries. (asa/lup)