Panicked commuters jump from moving train

[MickeyD]

Johannesburg - About 120 people have been injured after the train they were travelling on allegedly had a system failure in its brake system, Johannesburg paramedics say.

"The train did not crash or derail at all," Netcare911 spokesperson Chris Botha said.

"Reports indicate that for reasons still to be investigated the brakes seem to have locked causing people to fall. In the panic it appears that some of the commuters jumped from the moving train."

The incident took place around 19.00.

Botha said about 120 had sustained minor to serious injuries. They were treated on the scene before being transported to nearby hospitals. Isaac Fortiun, who lives across the train station, told News24 he heard an explosion and then screams coming from the train.

"I just saw explosions on the train. It got stuck on the railway track, then people jumped out of the train... It was terrible to see."

He said he saw between 50 and 100 injured people, but was barred by police from going near the scene to assist.

"The people were screaming, a lot of them. Out of my yard I can see everything. It's about 100m away."

The cause of the accident was unclear and subject to investigation, said Botha.

Mpho Raborife, News24

Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Panicked-commuters-jump-from-moving-train-20151023

 

[dunkyd]

#brakesmustfail...

 

[HavocXphere]

brakes seem to have locked [..] In the panic it appears that some of the commuters jumped from the moving train.

Jumping from a train that is de-accelerating.

 

[schumi]

Train did not experience system failure - Prasa

Genevieve Quintal, News24

Johannesburg - A Johannesburg train, from which panicked commuters jumped from, did not experience a system failure in its brake system, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) said on Saturday.

There was an electric spark in the motor coach on the driver's side, spokesperson Lesedi Mapheto said.

"As a result of that spark commuters panicked and they jumped off the train.

"It was about 82 people who jumped off the train," he said.

This was in contrast to the 120 people paramedics said had been injured.

Mapheto said paramedics had provided incorrect information on Friday night.

At the time Netcare 911 said about 120 people had been injured when they jumped from the train which allegedly had a system failure in its brake system.

The train did not crash or derail.

The incident took place around 19:00 in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg.

Botha said about 120 had sustained minor to serious injuries. They were treated on the scene before being transported to nearby hospitals.

However, Mapheto said 82 people were injured and taken to various hospitals.

Of the 82, six were kept overnight for further observation. The rest were discharged on Friday.

"The cause of the incident is not known as this stage besides the fact that there was an electrical spark," he added.

Experts were busy with an investigation and the findings would be released as soon as they were ready.

Prasa apologised to commuters for any inconvenience caused and said it would ensure that something like this did not happen again.

Mapheto urged commuters not to panic when on the trains as a dedicated team was on board to help in any situation.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Train-did-not-experience-system-failure-Prasa-20151024