Jakarta (Antara Bali) - 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. (*/DWA)
