Police Question Eight Witnesses From Commuter Train Crash

Jakarta, Dec 10 (Antara) - The Metro Jaya Police have questioned eight witnesses in Monday`s deadly accident involving a commuter train and a fuel truck, which took place in Bintaro on the southwestern outskirts of Jakarta. The spokesman of Metro Jaya Police, Senior Commissioner Rikwanto said on Tuesday that the seven witnesses were namely a railway crossing attendant and two of his assistants, and four others, who were at the scene when the accident took place. The other witness was a motorcyclist, who was riding behind the ill-fated fuel truck when it was hit by the commuter train. Rikwanto explained that the fuel truck had forced its way through the railway crossing level in the Pondok Betung area, but was stuck in a traffic jam, which had made the accident inevitable. He further pointed out that while the crossing safety bars were being lowered, the fuel truck had continued to move forward and when it was about to cross the railway line, the train had come in and hit the truck. The front coach of the commuter train, which was travelling from Serpong in the South Tangerang district to Tanah Abang in Jakarta, had derailed and caught fire immediately after slamming into the truck. At least seven people had died in the accident, while another 72 were injured. The bodies of the deceased were taken to the Pertamina Hospital in Jakarta, while the injured were rushed to the Fatmawati, Suyoto and Premier Bintaro hospitals. Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono conveyed his deepest sympathies for the victims of the deadly commuter train crash on Tuesday. "We grieve for the tragedy that took place on the commuter train in Bintaro. Hopefully, the families of the victims are given fortitude," wrote the President on his Twitter account @SBYudhoyono on Tuesday. The head of state said he had instructed Transportation Minister Evert E Mangindaan to provide the necessary assistance to the victims at the hospitals. "I am still waiting for the results of the investigation conducted into the accident by the National Committee for Transportation Safety (KNKT). This will be a lesson for us to avoid similar accidents from recurring in the future," the President noted.