Train-truck crash kills seven

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.