Fatal Accident at Pondok Jati Station Train Gate, Train Driver Says Box Car Broke Through Crossing Barrier

Kecelakaan di Stasiun Pondok Jati membelat korban jiwa/ Foto: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Operational Area (Daop) 1 Jakarta received a report regarding an accident that occurred related to the derailment of KA 302 (Parcel Tengah) on the Kampung Bandan – Malang route by a box car loaded with gas cylinders on the Direct Crossing Road (JPL) No. 46, KM 10+4/5, upstream route, Jatinegara–Pasar Senen route on Wednesday night, February 19.

According to the report of the KA 302 Driver, the motto 35 or locomotive horn had been sounded as a warning. However, the box car driver allegedly still broke through the crossing barrier. As a result of this incident, the position of the KA 302 locomotive had to be turned off, because according to him there was a leak.

Meanwhile, the downstream route on the Jatinegara – Pasar Senen route is still declared safe for other train operations.

"PT KAI Daop 1 Jakarta deeply regrets this incident, because it has an impact on material and immaterial losses," said KAI Daop 1 Jakarta Public Relations Manager, Ixfan Hendriwintoko when confirmed by VOI, Thursday, February 20.

For information, railroad crossings in Indonesia have been strictly regulated in laws and regulations to ensure the safety of all road users.

In accordance with the provisions of Law (UU) Number 23 of 2007 concerning Railways and Law Number 22 of 2009 concerning Traffic and Road Transportation, road users are required to give priority to trains when crossing level crossings.

The railroad crossing rules that must be obeyed by road users are not to cross level crossings when the gates are starting to close, reduce speed when seeing level crossing warning signs, stop vehicles before crossing and look left and right to ensure the lane is safe, stop when the signal sounds and the railroad gates are starting to close, or there are other signals.

Then prioritize train travel and do not break through the crossing and give priority to vehicles that have crossed the rails first to avoid congestion or potential accidents.

"The sanction for violators of railroad crossing rules is that violations of railroad crossing rules can result in legal sanctions," he said.

In accordance with Article 114 of Law No. 22 of 2009, drivers are required to stop when the signal sounds and the barrier is closed and are required to give priority to train travel.

In addition, Article 296 of the LLAJ Law states that drivers who dare to break through a railroad crossing can be subject to a maximum of 3 months in prison or a maximum fine of IDR 750 thousand.

Previously reported, other facts were revealed in the fatal accident at the Pondok Jati Station railroad crossing, Matraman, East Jakarta, which occurred on Wednesday night, February 19.

In addition to the congestion which was the main cause of the accident so that many vehicles were trapped in the dangerous zone of the railroad crossing, the railroad crossing doors and sirens also began to close because there was a train that was going to cross the Pondok Jati railroad track.

A panic situation ensued. Meanwhile, vehicles trapped in the dangerous zone of the railroad crossing remained locked or stuck, the flow of vehicles could not flow and was sterile.

Seeing this condition, the Pondok Jati crossing gate officer had time to raise a red flag before the accident occurred at the Pondok Jati crossing, Matraman.

The red flag was given so that the train could stop because there was something dangerous at the crossing.

According to Septi, a volunteer guard at the Pondok Jati railway crossing, the officer gave a signal for the train to stop because several vehicles were stuck in the middle of the crossing.

"The train driver had been notified by the guard, given a red flag but didn't stop. It immediately hit the pick-up," said Septi, Thursday, February 20.

Before the accident occurred, the crossing gate had not been closed because no train had arrived. However, when a number of vehicles were crossing the crossing, then the train was about to arrive and the crossing gate began to close. Meanwhile, at the location, there were still many vehicles stuck in traffic.

"The condition of the vehicle was already in the middle (of the railway track in the crossing area). When it crossed, there was a train. The gate was closed and the train had already entered," he said.

The fatal collision that occurred at the Pondok Jati Station railway crossing, Palmeriam Village, Matraman District, East Jakarta, caused two motorcycles and one carry pickup car to be crushed.

As a result of the fatal accident, 4 motorbike and car riders became victims. The victim with the initials E (15) died, the victim with the initials DI was in critical condition and two victims with the initials MN (21) and S (40) managed to save themselves.