SURVIVORS of the fatal bus crash involving Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students have shared harrowing details of the incident, with one claiming the vehicle had been speeding before it veered off the road in the early hours of Monday morning.
“We were already off the road before we knew it,” said Nik Khairulnisa Ruzmi, 23, a third-year History Education student at UPSI, who was among the 42 students on board the ill-fated bus travelling from Terengganu to their campus.
She recalled that the crash occurred while most of the passengers were asleep following their return from the Aidiladha break.
“It wasn’t a chartered tour bus, just a regular coach. We boarded in front of Masjid Hadhari in Jerteh. I was seated in the middle, on the right side,” she told Sinar Harian today.
“It happened around 1am. I was asleep but woke up to the bus speeding. Then suddenly, we were off the road. I didn’t know who made it out. I tried calling out to friends, but there was no response.”
Fifteen students were confirmed dead in the crash, which also involved a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). The tragedy occurred on the Gerik–Jeli road near Tasik Banding.
Nik Khairulnisa, from Besut, Terengganu, escaped with minor injuries, including cuts and bruises on her left arm. She added, “I wasn’t sitting on the side that flipped. But those next to me were badly injured.”
She described the moment of impact as chaotic.
“I heard people screaming ‘Allahuakbar’. After the crash, it was eerily silent. Everything outside was pitch black. I was terrified and traumatised,” she said.
She also expressed uncertainty about the condition of her close friend, who was also on board.
“I know her well, though we’re not in the same programme. I’m not sure where she is now, or whether she’s safe.”
Nik Khairulnisa has since received counselling support and is awaiting her family’s arrival from Besut. She intends to undergo further medical checks as advised by hospital staff.
“Doctors recommended a follow-up. A counsellor also visited. They told us to reach out if we need someone to talk to,” she added. For now, she has declined to share any photos, citing trauma.
Another survivor, Nur Irdina Yamin Huri, 22, also recounted the terrifying moments leading to the crash.
“Some of the passengers weren’t asleep yet. I started smelling something burning. Then the bus began swaying before it overturned,” she said when met at Gerik Hospital on Monday.
“In the dark, I tried to find a way out of the bus. I could hear friends screaming.”
Nur Irdina sustained injuries to her waist and leg. She said the scene was almost indescribable due to the darkness and confusion.
She was also shocked to learn that several of her friends had died in the tragedy. - June 9, 2025
