Three killed, 15 injured in train collision

Three killed, 15 injured in train collision

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Rangkasbitung

At least three people were killed and 15 others injured in a
train collision in the village of Lebak, Cijero Lebak
subdistrict, Banten, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The fatalities and injured were taken to Adjidarmo General
Hospital and the Mission health clinic in Rangkasbitung. Records
at the hospital showed that the three fatalities were locomotive
engineer Achmad bin Sunardi, 24, his assistant Sutisna, 40, and
Samsul Bachri, a drink vendor. They are believed to have died
instantly.

Five people receiving intensive care for serious injuries are
Lilis, 30, her one-and-half-year-old daughter Rina, locomotive
engineer Dody Sutarno, 46, his assistant Dedy Darmawan, 29, and
Ade Hardianto, 25.

Suhud Efendi was rushed to the Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital in Jakarta for emergency treatment, while other patients
were allowed to return home after being treated for minor
injuries.

Until Thursday evening, state-owned railway company PT Kereta
Api Indonesia (KAI) was still investigating the collision.

KAI spokesman Zaenal Abidin said that the accident occurred
when a passenger train plying the Tanah Abang (Jakarta)-
Rangkasbitung route collided head-on with a cargo train traveling
from the opposite direction.

"The collision occurred around one kilometer away from the
Rangkasbitung railway station at 2 a.m. and an investigation into
the collision is still under way. It appears that there must have
been something wrong with the passenger train's brakes because it
should have made its last stop at the Rangkasbitung station,"
Zaenal said.

Asked to comment on the spate of train accidents over the last
two months, Zaenal said: "We do not want the accidents to
happen."

He added that KAI has not found any indications of possible
foul play behind the accident.

Over the last two months there have been four train accidents,
the worst being a head-on collision in Cirebon on Sept. 2 that
killed 50 people.

Rangkasbitung Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Abdul Rohim said
local police were working with KAI to uncover the cause of the
collision.

"We are still collecting details and waiting on statements
from the cargo train's crew, who are still undergoing intensive
medical care," he said.