Fuel Truck Driver Blamed for Deadly Crash with Passenger Train

Jakarta, Dec 9 (ANTARA LAMPUNG) - A railway company official has blamed the truck driver for the deadly crash with a passenger train at a railway crossing in Bintaro in Jakarta's southwestern outskirts on Monday.

"The fuel truck driver did not comply with the rules. He rammed through the crossing's bars," the head of the state railway company's operation region 1, Isnadi, said.    

He added that the siren had been sounded about five to seven minutes before the train reached the crossing.  

"The train left the railway station five to seven minutes before reaching the crossing. The train was moving at a speed of 70 km per hour," he noted.

While the crossing's safety bars were being lowered, the fuel truck rammed through the bars, which caused the crash, he noted.

"At 10.53 a.m., the train left Serpong station. At 11.07 a.m.-11.09 a.m, it left Pondok Randji station and at 11.15 a.m., it hit the fuel truck. The crossing bars had only been partly lowered when the truck hit the train," he said.

At least eight people have died in the accident, while another 72 people were injured.

Among the casualties were the passenger train's machinist and his assistant. The driver of the truck survived, although he sustained major injuries.

The front coach of the commuter train, which was travelling from Serpong in South Tangerang district to Tanah Abang in Jakarta, derailed and caught fire immediately after slamming into the truck.

The bodies of the deceased were taken to the Pertamina Hospital in Jakarta, while the injured were rushed to the Fatmawati, the Suyoto and the Premier Bintaro hospitals.