AKBP Nopta Histaris Suzan, the Head of Traffic Police for the Metro Tangerang City Resort Police, has provided crucial details regarding the condition of the barrier gates and warning sirens at the railway crossing during a recent collision. The incident involved a Soekarno-Hatta Airport train and a truck transporting a lifeboat, which occurred at the Poris Station crossing in Tangerang City on Friday, February 20.
According to Nopta’s statement, derived from both witness testimonies and comprehensive CCTV footage, the railway barrier gate remained open as the truck attempted to cross the tracks. Despite this, Nopta confirmed that the warning sirens had indeed been activated by the duty officer at the time of the train-truck accident. He further emphasized, “Based on witness accounts, the driver’s statement, and our direct observation of the CCTV footage at the location, it is clear that there was no attempt to close the barrier gate. It was still wide open, and the CCTV also distinctly shows what transpired before any potential closure. We have directly reviewed this from the recordings.”
Further insights from the crossing guard indicated that efforts were made to alert the train driver about the impending danger. Additionally, the sirens were sounded to warn motorists approaching the railway crossing. However, Nopta noted, “There were instances where vehicles disregarded these warnings, and it’s also true that from one perspective, drivers observed the barrier gate had not yet closed. Therefore, we must delve deeper into this matter and will report on the ongoing developments of the investigation.”
Rear Section Trapped on Tracks
Earlier, Metro Tangerang City Police Chief Raden Muhammad Jauhari stated that the collision transpired at 06:05 AM Western Indonesian Time. At the time, the train was en route from Manggarai Station in Jakarta, heading towards Soekarno-Hatta Airport Station. Upon reaching the Poris Station crossing in Tangerang, a truck became unexpectedly stuck on the tracks, rendering the subsequent collision unavoidable.
Raden explained to reporters, “This truck was traveling from Cipondoh towards Daan Mogot. Then, as the train approached the crossing, the truck entered the railway line. The cab of the truck had successfully cleared the tracks, but its rear section unfortunately remained trapped.” This critical detail highlights the precise point of impact that led to the devastating truck collision.
As a direct consequence, the body of the truck was struck by the oncoming train and subsequently dragged for approximately 100 meters from the initial crossing point. “The truck was dragged up to 100 meters,” Raden confirmed, providing a vivid picture of the impact. Thankfully, he also delivered reassuring news: “However, in this incident, there were no fatalities.”
Currently, authorities including the police, the Tangerang City Transportation Agency, and KAI (Indonesian Railways) are diligently working to evacuate the truck’s damaged body from the tracks. Concurrently, they are implementing comprehensive traffic management measures around the Poris Station area to ensure safety and minimize disruption.