Train pileup kills one, injures nine in Bekasi
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)