BALIK PULAU: A group of orchard workers had to break the window of an ill-fated van to free the passengers who were trapped inside after it plunged into a ravine on Sunday night.
Tilak Ale, 33, said he and his three friends were resting at a nearby hut when they heard about the incident at about 8.30pm.
“We were the first to arrive at the scene. We decided to break the window of the van and rescue some of the passengers.
“We used a rock to break it and managed to free some of the passengers,” he said, adding that a few minutes later firemen and other rescue personnel arrived.
A Singaporean tourist was killed while 10 others in the van, including the Malaysian driver, were hurt after the vehicle plunged into the ravine at Bukit Genting.
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said he was informed by the tour company that the deceased was Lee Kwee Yiam, 62.
“Six of the Singaporean tourists have been discharged from hospital and are scheduled to return to Singapore on Tuesday,” he said.
Wong said three others, including the Malaysian van driver, were warded at the Penang General Hospital and two more at a private hospital.
“Two of them suffered broken bones and require further examination. However, all the victims are in stable condition,” he added.
When contacted, Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Kamarul Rizal Jenal said investigation found that the driver had lost control of the van when it skidded while descending the hill on a rainy night.
“He told us the engine stalled for a moment when the van was descending and when he restarted it, the van lunged forward and he could not brake in time along the narrow hilly road,” he said.
Supt Kamarul said the van would be sent to the computerised vehicle inspection centre (Puspakom) to determine the cause of the accident.
“The driver also told us that he was instructed by a restaurant to pick up the tourists and send them back to their hotels.
“A bus had brought them earlier but the bus could not go up to the hill where the restaurant is located,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
