Train-truck crash kills seven
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post/Purworejo
An economy train smashed into a truck packed with passengers on Wednesday night in Purworejo regency, Central Java, killing seven and injuring four others. The crash came only four days after similar fatal accident in Tegal, also in the same province.
Purworejo police reported that of the seven victims, six died instantly while the other died at Purworejo Hospital. The victims were Sucipto, 28, Toyibah, 40, Riyono, 55, Mahkoto, 42, Muhajir, 66, Kadis, 45 and Sukur, 41.
The four injured are being treated at Purworejo Hospital, while the remaining 14 passengers, including driver Budiyono, who survived the accident, have already gone home.
All the victims were villagers of Kemiri village, about 20 kilometers west of Purworejo, Central Java.
The accident occurred at about 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday when the truck, with 24 passengers and a driver on board, passed the railway crossing in Kauman hamlet, Bagelen village, some 12 kilometers east of Purworejo.
The driver was apparently unaware that the Gaya Baru Malam train, which was heading west to Jakarta from Surabaya, was fast approaching the railway crossing.
According to eyewitness Karyadi of Kauman, whose home is next to the accident site, the truck was carrying passengers who were to attend an Islamic service being held at the Sunan Geseng Mosque in Kauman.
"I was surprised by a loud noise followed by screaming just as I was about to go to bed," said Tuyem, another local resident.
Karyadi said that it was the third time such an accident had occurred at the particular location. The first happened in the 1980s, with no fatalities reported, while the second happened some five years ago, killing a physician driving a sedan.
Wednesday's train accident followed another accident in Padaarja subdistrict of Tegal on Saturday last week, where an executive train smashed into a Toyota Kijang van, killing 12 passengers. In common with the Bagelen accident, the railway crossing in Padaarja was not equipped with a safety bar.