18 killed in commuter train crash after ‘minibus driver ignored red signal’

A commuter train slammed into a passenger minibus Sunday at a railroad crossing in Indonesia’s capital, killing 18 people and seriously injuring six others. The bus driver allegedly ignored the warning signals when he crossed the rail tracks and was rammed by the train in western Jakarta, said Tambora neigbourhood police chief Wirdhanto. The shattered bus was seen lying on the tracks after it was dragged by the train up to a nearby platform, about 300 metres from the collision site.

No-one on the train was hurt in the accident but several bus passengers died.

Eva Chairunisa, a spokeswoman for train operator Kereta Commuter Line

Wirdhanto, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, said that 13 people in the minibus were killed instantly and another five, including the driver, died in hospital or on their way for treatment. He said none of passengers traveling in the train’s eight cars were hurt and all rail signals were working at the time of the crash. The train, which had about 400 passengers on board, was headed to Jakarta’s neighbouring town of Bogor.

Asia-Pacific Jakarta train