JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 8 – Three female China tourists were killed and 11 others seriously injured in an accident involving two buses and a lorry at km94 North-South Highway, Yong Peng-Ayer Hitam near Batu Pahat, on Wednesday. Batu Pahat district police chief ACP Din Ahmad said the accident occurred at 5.30pm.
“The accident was believed to have been caused when the lorry, heading from Johor Baru to Yong Peng burst a tyre. Police believe the tanker may have lost control. It went over the divider to the opposite side of the expressway where it collided with the first bus, followed by another,” said Batu Pahat police chief Assistant Commissioner Din Ahmad.
As a result, the bus was upside down while three tourists died on the spot and 11 others were seriously injured. The deceased, all female tourists, were sent for a post-mortem at the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital in Batu Pahat. The injured were also sent to the same hospital.
It was learnt that one of the buses involved in the accident was ferrying China tourists to Johor Baru. However, 24 other passengers from the second bus were not injured. Meanwhile, police have also detained the 46-year-old tanker driver to assist in investigations.
The authorities have yet to ascertain the identities of the deceased as the impact of the collision caused the personal belongings of the passengers to be scattered along the expressway. Johor Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Mohamad Nazaruddin Ahmad Zainuddin said the identities of the dead were still being determined.
In the same time, he said that the rescue team is still working to clear the wreckage at the scene and trying to locate the victims’ passports for identification. Investigators are probing whether the accident was caused by the tanker speeding before it lost control. Police have classified the case under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless driving.
