A board of inquiry has been set up to investigate the horror accident in which 19 people were killed when a train ploughed into a truck carrying farmworkers on a rail crossing near Somerset West, Metrorail said on Tuesday.
”It must be noted that the accident has 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 in a statement.
”The board of enquiry will therefore investigate and determine the cause of the accident.”
He said the inquiry will involve the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR), the legal custodian of rail safety which is independent of Metrorail.
Shortly before the accident on Monday, the RSR said in a statement that preliminary investigations suggested that the driver had ignored warning signals. The train then smashed into the truck, killing the 19 farm workers and injuring 12 others.
Montana said the crossing met statutory requirements.
”The level crossings meet 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 had been arranged for the train driver, a guard and commuters who escaped unscathed.
”Metrorail has also committed to assist in whatever way necessary to ensure that the deceased receive dignified burials.”
”We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives and the injured,” he said. – Sapa