A Dhoho Commuter Line train traveling from Kertosono Station to Malang was involved in a collision with a truck at the JPL 190 railroad crossing on Jalan Imam Bonjol, Sananwetan District, Blitar, on Tuesday (April 28) at approximately 9:35 PM WIB.
Tohari, the Public Relations Manager for Daop 7 Madiun, stated that the accident was likely caused by a truck that stalled across the tracks while the railway crossing gates were already lowered. “We suspect the truck broke down in the middle of the crossing just as the gates were being closed,” Tohari told kumparan.
Following the collision, emergency response teams promptly evacuated the area. The truck was successfully cleared from the tracks by 10:00 PM WIB. However, the impact caused damage to the locomotive’s braking system, preventing the train from continuing its journey immediately. By 10:35 PM WIB, crews on the ground reported that the locomotive had been secured and was able to reverse back to Blitar Station for further repairs.
Fortunately, authorities confirmed that there were no casualties in the incident. Passengers, railway crew members, and the truck driver all escaped the collision unharmed.
“Thankfully, we have received no reports of injuries among the passengers, the train crew, or the truck driver,” Tohari explained. “It appears the truck driver managed to exit the vehicle before the train reached the crossing. The train engineer did attempt to initiate emergency braking, but given the short distance, a collision was unavoidable.”
Tohari also noted that the railway crossing staff had attempted to signal the train engineer to alert them of the obstruction on the tracks. Despite these efforts, the proximity of the train made a complete stop impossible.
In light of this event, railway officials are urging the public to exercise extreme caution at level crossings. “We remind all road users to be vigilant when approaching railway crossings. Always stop, look both left and right, and ensure no train is approaching before proceeding,” Tohari emphasized.
He further reminded the public that railway crossing gates are merely secondary safety tools, not the primary method of protection. “The primary safety measure is the ‘STOP’ sign. Every road user must come to a complete stop to verify that the tracks are clear, especially once the warning sirens begin to sound.”
Summary
A Dhoho Commuter Line train struck a truck that had stalled at a level crossing on Jalan Imam Bonjol, Blitar, on Tuesday night (April 28). According to KAI Daop 7 Madiun, the truck reportedly suffered a mechanical failure just as the crossing gates were closing. Although the engineer applied the emergency brakes, the distance was too short to avoid a collision.
There were no fatalities or injuries, as the truck driver managed to exit the vehicle before the crash occurred. The impact damaged the locomotive’s braking system, requiring the train to be towed back to Blitar Station for repairs. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and strictly follow traffic signs when crossing railway tracks.