IPOH: Two lorry drivers were killed in a seven-vehicle pile-up at KM288 northbound of the North-South Expressway (NSE) near Simpang Pulai, which led to about eight hours of traffic congestion.
In the incident at about 7.35am yesterday, Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Yahaya Hassan said the driver of a trailer, which was transporting 25 metric tonnes of sugar and heading south, lost control of the vehicle before crashing through the divider and ramming into another trailer that was carrying iron coils.
ACP Yahaya said the drivers of both trailers died on the spot.
“Initial investigation found that both drivers did not bring along any attendants.
“A background check on the driver of the trailer that was transporting sugar found that he had two traffic summonses,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said the other vehicles involved were another trailer, two multi-purpose vehicles and two cars.
“A driver of one of the cars involved suffered some injuries,” he said, adding that the remaining victims were sent to the nearest hospital.
ACP Yahaya said the case will be investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act.
“We urge those who witnessed the accident to inform district police traffic investigation and enforcement department head Deputy Supt Koo Boon Kuat at 016-417 3222 to help with the investigation,” he added.
Earlier, Perak Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director Sabarozi Nor Ahmad said there were 11 other people who were involved in the accident.
He said nine adults and one seven-year-old boy were unharmed while one woman, in her 40s, suffered a broken arm.
PLUS Trafik posted on X at 7.38am, saying that the collision led to vehicle flow from both the northbound and southbound lanes being affected.
“Traffic isn’t moving,” it said.
Motorists driving south were advised to exit via the Simpang Pulai interchange while those heading north were to exit at Gopeng.
In another update at about 2pm, PLUS stated that the clearing work was still being carried out.
“The lane heading north remains closed. A contra lane has been activated. Traffic from both sides is congested. Please use an alternative route. Drive carefully.”
At close to 4pm, PLUS said that all lanes heading towards north and south had been reopened.
“Traffic is slow for 19km heading north and four km towards south,” it said, adding that the contra lane had been deactivated.
Malaysians caught in the traffic snarl shared their experiences on X, among other channels.
Someone posted with three crying emojis: “I have been stuck in the jam. I am still in Simpang Pulai. It has been three hours.”
Others commented about the sugar spill.
“The road looked like it was covered by snow,” one wrote.
Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, who was supposed to attend a programme in Ipoh yesterday, was also caught in the traffic snarl and had to give it a miss.
