Train pileup kills one, injures nine in Bekasi

JAKARTA (JP): One person was killed and nine others injured in a three-train collision early yesterday in Karang Asih village, Bekasi, the city's second fatal train accident of the week.

Police are investigating whether the accident was due to negligence of railway attendants at nearby Cikarang station.

"Preliminary findings indicate it was caused by human error, as the attendants abandoned their post at the time of the incident," Lt. Col. Adjie Rustam Ramdja, head of Bekasi police precinct, told The Jakarta Post.

Adjie refused to give details on whether there was more than suspect. "It's all under thorough investigation."

The accident occurred at 3:40 a.m. when a speeding freight train on the Jakarta-Bandung route hit a cattle train from Cikampek, which was changing tracks.

A packed Mpu Jaya passenger train traveling the Kutoarjo- Jakarta route on a parallel track hit the derailed freight wagons.

A witness, identified only as Private Iman Suryatman, was quoted by the police as saying he saw the freight train approaching from the west and hit the cattle train.

"It happened so fast... I heard a loud noise, then another crash followed."

Screams for help pierced the darkness, he added, and "then people started arriving to help the passengers".

Another witness, Suharno B. Samuri, told the police the two collisions happened in rapid succession.

Train attendant Sudaryo, 48, died instantly in the accident.

Two of the injured were rushed to Medika Karya Hospital in Cibitung and the other seven to Bhakti Husada Hospital in Bekasi.

Junaedi, an attendant on the cattle train, is in critical condition with a severe head injury at Bhakti Husada. Sutinah, 54, Solihin, 18, Kasturi, 38, Saring, 38, Supandi, 24 and a 10- year-old boy, Anakrandai, are also being treated at the same hospital.

Safii, 47, and Kodar, 52, are hospitalized at Medika Karya.

Head of Operational Area Division I of state railway company Perumka, Eddy Sasongko, told the media that the company was conducting its own probe into the cause of the accident.

"Whether there is an indication of sabotage... I do not know. Please wait for further results of the investigation," a visibly stressed Eddy said.

Minister of Communications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono reportedly visited the accident site at 8 a.m.

"The minister has ordered a thorough investigation over the case," Eddy added.

On Monday, nine people were killed when a speeding train hit a public minivan in the Bintaro Permai area in South Jakarta, after the minivan's driver reportedly ignored a warning from a railway crossing attendant.

City police traffic chief Lt. Col. Fachruddin Abubakar said the police, in cooperation with City Land Transportation Agency, had erected signs and banners at railway crossing areas considered prone to accidents.

"Among the places are crossing areas in Pramuka in Central Jakarta, Bintara and Pondok Kopi in East Jakarta and Bintaro in South Jakarta," he said.

Also planned are black-and yellow banners bearing "Watch Out. Train Passing" messages and danger signs at several points along the railway line where people frequently cross. (edt)