Train-bus collision kills seven

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra (JP): Seven people died, including a three-month-old baby and 26 others were injured when a public bus was hit by a coal train early Sunday morning.

Chief of Muara Enim Police Adj. Comr. Budi Sardjono said the bus, Tasima Star 2000, plying the Jakarta-Palembang route was hit by a coal train as it was crossing over a railway line in Prabumulih.

"The guard at the railway crossing failed to lower the crossing gate so the bus just crossed the railway without any warning that a train was approaching. As it crossed the railway line, the train hit the bus," Budi said.

The bus was dragged around 25 meters from where it was initially hit, he said.

The guard at the crossing gate, identified as Sugiyono, is being detained by police.

Muara Enim is located some 120 kilometers south of Palembang.

The fatalities included the two drivers of the bus which carried 40 people.

Police have identified the victims as bus drivers Anang Rozali, 46, Wandi, 40, Deni, 36 and baby Nuraini. Three others have yet to be identified.

The injured were being treated at nearby state-run Prabumulih General Hospital and several of them were rushed to A.K. Gani Hospital in Palembang for further treatment.

The Sunday morning incident was the second train accident in Muara Enim regency since April when a similar incident killed one person.

Spokesman of the local railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) Basnawi could not be reached for comment. (33/emf)