The star Online
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
November 14, 2006 Edition 3
A board of enquiry has been set up to investigate the horror accident in which 19 people were killed when a train ploughed into a truck carrying farmworkers at a rail crossing near Somerset West, Metrorail said today.
"It must be noted that the accident had nothing to do with Commuter Rail and the state of our infrastructure. It is an accident at a level crossing on a road leading to a private property," spokesperson Lucky Tshepo Montana said.
"The board of enquiry will therefore investigate and determine the cause of the accident."
He said the enquiry will involved the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR), a legal custodian of rail safety which is independent of Metrorail.
Shortly before the accident yesterday the RSR said in a statement that preliminary investigations suggested that the truck driver had ignored warning signals and proceeded over the level crossing.
This led the train to smash into the truck, killing 19 farm workers and injuring 12 others.
"Metrorail maintains that the crossing in question (and all others for that matter) conforms fully to the statutory requirements," Montana said.
"The level crossings met all legal standards which require drivers and passengers as well as pedestrians to take extra care when approaching a railway crossing."
He said trauma counselling has been arranged for all affected people, including the train driver, a guard and commuters who escaped unscathed.
"Metrorail is also committed to assist in whatever way necessary to ensure that the deceased receive dignified burials."
Montana said representatives from Metrorail will be visiting the farm where the deceased were employed this morning to provide moral and psychological support to those traumatised by the incident.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives and to those injured." - Sapa