GEORGE TOWN – Penang witnessed its deadliest road accident this year when three people burnt to death after they were trapped inside their vehicle.
The car caught fire after it slammed into a tree on the busy Jalan Masjid Negeri.
Firemen rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at around 3am, but they were unable to pull the victims out as the fire was raging.
After dousing the fire several minutes later, the firemen began the task of removing the bodies from the mangled car.
Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Department operations officer Sha’ari Mansor said that the victims likely died instantly from the crash.
They were confirmed dead by ambulance personnel.
“Firemen arrived to find the car on fire after it crashed into the tree and the three victims were trapped in the vehicle. The victims were removed after the fire was extinguished,” said Sha’ari in a WhatsApp message to the media.
The police have sent the bodies to the Penang Hospital for a post-mortem and to confirm their identities before notifying their next of kin.
A police spokesman said that this was the deadliest crash to occur in Penang this year, bearing in mind the reduced flow of traffic on roads due to the imposition of the full movement control order to contain Covid-19.
He advised those driving during predawn hours to stop and rest if they are tired. – The Vibes, August 16, 2021
