Jombang, Indonesianpost.com – Eleven days after a train-truck collision occurred at a level crossing in Semarang Barat Subdistrict, Central Java, again, a train hit a car at an unmanned level crossing in East Java Province on Saturday evening.
The accident killed six people and seriously injured two others, the spokesperson of PT Kereta Api Indonesia’s (KAI’s) VII Regional Operation (Daop) Madiun, Supriyanto, said here Sunday.
The Dhoho 423 train-car crash occurred at around 11:14 p.m. local time at the level crossing of Kilometer 85 between Jombang Station and Sembung Station in Gondekan Hamlet of Jabon Subdistrict, Jombang District.
The ill-fated car headed from north to south. Prior to the accident, several local residents who saw the car driver had shouted at him to reduce speed immediately because a train was passing, he said.
The driver might not have been aware of people’s warnings about the danger ahead. Instead of slowing down the car, he continued to drive at a steady speed to pass the unmanned level crossing.
As a result, the crash happened. The train, which serves the Blitar-Surabaya City route, dragged the car, but it was allowed to continue its journey after the Jombang station officers conducted a ground check.
“They declared that the train was able to continue its journey to Sembung Station from KM 85,” he said, adding that the Jombang station authority also contacted local police for the evacuation process.
The car debris was cleared from the railway track, and all those falling victim to the crash were evacuated.
Two wounded victims, identified as Fikri Hidayatuloh (42) and Arimbi (13), were rushed to Jombang public hospital for medical treatment, he said.
According to local media, the car was driven by Wahyu Kuswoyo (42). He died along with Sumiowati (60), Alinsa Mareta (16), Sutrianingsih (30), Azahrah Rohmah (14), and Adelia (19).
ANTARA reported earlier that on July 18, a passenger train hit a truck experiencing an engine failure at the level crossing of Madukoro Raya Road in Semarang Barat Subdistrict, Central Java Province.
No one died in the accident, but one of the Brantas train’s passengers was reportedly injured.