IPOH – Police have arrested the driver of a trailer laden with metal fences to assist in the investigation into an accident involving a car and another trailer that left five victims burning to death at KM245.2 of the North-South Expressway, northbound near Kuala Kangsar, early this morning.
Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said they received information about the accident at about 1.45am and the 28-year-old man was detained to assist in further investigations under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
According to him, the initial investigation found that the accident occurred when a trailer ferrying mosaic tiles heading north was driving in the right lane as the left lane from KM246 to KM244.4 was closed for road maintenance.
“At the same time, a Honda City car was following behind the trailer when suddenly another trailer carrying metal fences, driving from the same direction, could not brake in time and crashed into the back of the car.
“The trailer then pushed it forward until the car hit the rear of the trailer ferrying mosaic tiles,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.
He said following the impact, the car transporting five men had caught fire before spreading to the trailer behind.
“The driver and four passengers in the car were trapped and did not have time to save themselves and were confirmed dead at the scene.
“The firefighters managed to remove all the victims who were trapped in the car before their remains were sent to the Kuala Kangsar Hospital for post-mortem,” he said.
The five victims were students of Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS).
Among them were Muhammad Nasrun Aidol Munir Akbar, 22, who was driving the car, and front passenger, Ahmad Naim Najmi Ahmad Hafizan, 21. Three others, Muhammad Nabil Haikal Muhammad Fariz, 19, Ahmad Akmal Ahmad Mokhlis, 20, and Iqbal Hasnun Halimi, 23, were seated in the back.
USAS vice-chancellor Tan Sri Nordin Kardi said the university had informed the students’ families about the incident that occurred while the five victims were on the way from Ipoh after a holiday in the city.
“All of them were the best students and have just reported to start their classes after the Aidilfitri holiday,” he said when met by reporters at the Kuala Kangsar Hospital Forensic Unit here today.
Nordin said the university would help the victims’ families by providing accommodation and other necessities until the victims’ affairs were completed.
Nasrun and Iqbal both were pursuing Bachelor of Islamic Studies; Naim (Bachelor of Counselling (Hons)); Nabil (Diploma in Business Administration) and Akmal (Diploma in Islamic Counselling).
A check by Bernama found that several family members were present at the Kuala Kangsar Hospital Forensic Unit for the post-mortem process.
Also present at the hospital compound were the state education, higher learning and human resources committee chairman, Ahmad Saidi Mohamad Daud and several assemblymen. – Bernama, May 12, 2022
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