PETALING JAYA: All it took was a tyre to come off a lorry. And seven people were killed, when a bus hit the tyre that was still lying on the road.
The tour bus, carrying 27 passengers, veered into the opposite lane and collided with two vehicles, resulting in the deaths of five family members in an MPV, the bus driver and a Singaporean woman passenger.
Another lorry and a sedan car were also involved in the crash that left 33 people injured.
The bodies were sent to Hospital Melaka for post-mortem while the case is investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, said Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Ashari Abu Samah.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim extended his condolences to the vicims’ families.In a post on X, he expressed his grief over the tragedy, hoping that the victims’ families would be granted patience and strength during this difficult time.
“Praying that those who perished will be forgiven and granted a special place by His side, InsyaAllah,” he said.
MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong also extended his condolences to the families of victims.
“I hope the relevant authorities will establish a task force of a special team to investigate this incident thoroughly. It is crucial to ensure that such an incident does not happen again,”said the former transport minister on Facebook.
Dr Wee said a special report published by a Malay daily on Tuesday on fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles should be taken seriously.
A total of 825 fatal accidents involving lorries were recorded in the first 10 months of this year, with an average of three lorry accidents per day, according to Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri.
“It is a worrying trend,” added the Ayer Hitam MP.
Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and state health, human resources and unity committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem were among state leaders who visited the family of the deceased and the injured at Hospital Alor Gajah yesterday.
Supt Ashari said the accident was believed to have happened when a dislodged tyre from a lorry, which was heading south, landed in the middle of the road.
While the lorry driver managed to take his vehicle to the side, the tyre remained in the middle of the highway.
The driver of the bus, which was coming from the same direction could not avoid hitting the tyre, forcing him to lose control of the vehicle.
The bus then skidded into the opposite lane before crashing into a car and then the lorry and the MPV, he said in a statement.
The impact caused the car to veer into the left lane and then crashed into the road barrier.
A dashcam video recording that has gone viral shows cars slowing down to avoid the tyre in the middle of the pitch-black road, indicating that it was on the road for several minutes before the accident occurred. Supr Arshad asked owners of dashcam recording to come forward with their videos to help investigations.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who also extended his condolences to the families, had earlier confirmed that the dislodged tyre from a trailer lorry was the cause of the accident.
“JPJ will continue to enforce stringent and integrated measures on heavy commercial vehicles, ensuring adherence to safety protocols at all times,” he said in a statement, Bernama reported.
