A collision occurred between the Dhoho Commuter Line train and a truck at the JPL 190 railroad crossing, located at KM 120+448 on Jalan Imam Bonjol, Sananwetan District, Blitar, on Tuesday (April 28) at approximately 9:35 PM local time. The train was operating on its scheduled route from Kertosono Station to Malang Station.
Tohari, the Public Relations Manager for Daop 7 Madiun, stated that the accident was reportedly caused by a truck that stalled directly across the tracks. “The truck appeared to have broken down in the middle of the crossing while the safety gates were already lowered,” Tohari told kumparan on Tuesday.
Following the impact, emergency response teams immediately began evacuation efforts, and the truck was cleared from the tracks by approximately 10:00 PM. However, the train’s locomotive sustained damage to its braking system, which initially prevented it from moving. By 10:35 PM, technical teams successfully managed to resolve the issue, allowing the train to return to Blitar Station for further repairs.
Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in the incident. All passengers, train crew members, and the truck driver remained safe. It is believed that the truck driver managed to evacuate the vehicle before the collision occurred.
Tohari explained that the train conductor attempted an emergency brake as soon as the obstruction was spotted. However, due to the short distance, the momentum of the Commuter Line 408 made a collision unavoidable. He also noted that the crossing guard at JPL 190 had made diligent efforts to signal the oncoming train to stop once the hazard was identified.
In the wake of this event, authorities are urging all road users to exercise extreme caution when navigating railway crossings. “We appeal to the public to always prioritize safety at level crossings. Always stop, look left and right, and ensure that no train is approaching before crossing,” Tohari emphasized.
He reminded the public that railway crossing gates are merely assistive devices and should not be considered the primary safety measure. “The primary safety mechanism is the ‘stop’ sign; drivers must always halt to verify the tracks are clear before proceeding, especially once the warning siren has been activated,” he concluded.
Summary
The Dhoho Commuter Line train collided with a truck that stalled at the JPL 190 crossing in Blitar on Tuesday evening. Although the train crew attempted an emergency brake, the collision was unavoidable due to the proximity of the vehicle. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, as the truck driver managed to evacuate the vehicle before the impact.
Emergency teams cleared the tracks within an hour, and the damaged locomotive was eventually moved to Blitar Station for repairs. Following the incident, railway authorities urged the public to prioritize safety by always stopping and checking for trains at crossings, noting that crossing gates should be treated as secondary safety measures.