JASIN: Three senior citizens died in a fire when a Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) cylinder exploded after the taxi they were in skidded and crashed into a bridge wall on Jalan Jasin Merlimau, near Kampung Lanchang.
Jasin OCPD Deputy Supt Ahmad Jamil Radzi said the incident occurred at 9am on Thursday (Nov 28). The elderly couple and the taxi driver were killed on the spot.
He said the couple, identified as Husali Umar, 84 and Mastura Said, 60, from Felcra Lembah Kesang, Merlimau, hired the taxi to visit their son at Taman Merlimau Perdana when the incident happened.
"The couple had nine children," he said.
DSP Ahmad Jamil identified the taxi driver as 71-year-old S. Subbramaniam from Taman Muhibah.
He said the taxi driver was believed to have lost control of his vehicle when reaching the stretch before skidding and hitting the bridge wall.
He said the impact of the collision caused the NGV cylinder to explode instantly.
Meanwhile, the Melaka Fire and Rescue Department said it received a distress call at 9.09am and deployed 11 personnel from Jasin Bestari and Merlimau stations to the scene.
