KLUANG: A 33-year-old aerospace engineer was killed in an accident involving a trailer just two days after another trailer accident took the life of a young woman in Penang.
Kluang Deputy OCPD Supt Nik Mohd Azmi Husin said the accident at KM69.5 of the North-South Expressway yesterday involved a trailer that was ferrying a container filled with fertiliser which crashed into the guardrail in the middle of the highway.
“The trailer was heading towards Johor Baru from Kluang,” he said.
The 40-year-old trailer driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the road divider on the expressway.
The trailer entered the opposite lane and overturned, he said in a statement yesterday.
He said the rear end of the trailer was then hit by a car travelling along the lane while a motorcycle ridden by the engineer crashed into the container.
“The motorcyclist sustained serious injuries on his head and body and died at the scene.
“Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man who was driving the car suffered injuries on his legs and body, while his 26-year-old wife suffered injuries on her head.
“Their one-year-old son was also in the car but was unharmed,” he said.
Supt Nik Mohd Azmi said that the lorry driver, who was also not injured, has been arrested and is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless driving.
Crushed: A scene from the crash on the North-South Expressway. — Photo courtesy of the Fire and Rescue Department
In a statement issued later in the day, Supt Nik Mohd Azmi said that during questioning, the lorry driver claimed that one of his front tyres had burst while he was travelling from Port Klang to Pasir Gudang.
“According to the statement we have recorded from him, the right front tyre of his trailer had suddenly burst, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and veer to the opposite lane.
“We have also conducted a urine test on him and the result was negative,” he said, adding that a remand application will be made for further investigation.
Supt Nik Mohd Azmi also revealed that the engineer who was killed in the accident has been identified as Muhammad Adib Adnan, from Selangor who was working in Singapore.
The offence is punishable with up to 10 years’ jail, a fine of up to RM50,000 and disqualification of the driving licence for between 10 and 20 years.
This accident occurred just two days after another incident involving a trailer in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, resulted in the death of a 21-year-old woman and injured a 25-year-old man.
In the Penang tragedy on Wednesday, the deceased, identified as Lee Zi Rou, was killed on the spot when a container being transported on a trailer lorry toppled and crushed her car at a traffic light junction.
Several other vehicles were also damaged, with another driver who sustained injuries taken to the hospital.
The injured victim, identified as Tan Chou Theng, 25, was rescued by passersby.
The 51-year-old trailer driver involved in the Penang incident has also been arrested to assist in the investigation under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act and is being remanded for four days starting from Thursday. By VENESA DEVI
venesa@thestar.com.my
