Train kills young beggar

Train kills young beggar

CIREBON, West Java: The Argo Muria executive train hit and killed an eight-year-old child and injured two others in Krucuk, Kejaksan subdistrict, Cirebon, on Wednesday.

The train, which was traveling at high speed from Semarang to Jakarta, hit Ahmad, a resident of Setupatok village in the regency, as he played on the tracks at 8:00 a.m. local time. He died instantly.

Ahmad had long been a beggar and street musician in the town's bus terminal and shopping district.

Before the incident, the train also hit a pedicab which was parked too close to the tracks, injuring the pedicab driver and a passenger. The victims, who have yet to be identified, were rushed to the local general hospital.

Suhartono, spokesman for the state-owned rail company, PT Kereta Api Indonesia, said that while the company had no legal liability for such an incident, it had nevertheless decided to make an ex gratia payment to the victim's family to cover burial expenses. --JP