Two Indonesian men died and several others were injured in a collision involving a tour bus, a tanker lorry, and a tow truck near Ayer Hitam, Johor.
The crash took place just after midnight on Thursday, July 3, along the southbound lane of the North-South Expressway at Kilometre 80.7, according to Berita Harian.
The tour bus, which was carrying dozens of plantation workers, reportedly crashed into a tanker lorry that was being towed by another vehicle.
Two victims, identified as 43-year-old Hidirman and 44-year-old Zulhadi, were discovered trapped in the wreckage and confirmed dead at the site, according to Assistant Fire Superintendent Mohamad Shamin Mohamed Salikin from the Ayer Hitam Fire and Rescue Station, BERNAMA reported.
Firefighters Used Special Equipment in Rescue Efforts
Firefighters deployed rescue tools to reach the trapped victims.
According to Mohamad Shamin, both men were confirmed dead at the location. A total of 16 people were injured in the crash, including the bus driver. Another 28 individuals escaped without harm.
The bus was carrying a total of 46 people, including the driver.
Emergency teams from the Ayer Hitam and Yong Peng fire stations were dispatched after receiving an alert at 12:44 am.
The rescue operation ended at 3:03 am.
Police Investigating Under the Road Transport Act
According to Batu Pahat district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani, preliminary findings suggest the bus slammed into the back of a tanker lorry that was in the process of being towed.
The bus driver suffered injuries to his shoulder, ribs, and hand. Five other passengers reported headaches.
He has since been remanded for three days, from Friday, July 4, to Sunday, July 6, to assist in investigations under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
The drivers of the tanker lorry, 33, and the tow truck, 42, were not injured.
Workers Were Newly Arrived from Lombok, Indonesia
According to The Star, Jati Heri Winarto from the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Baru confirmed that the passengers on the bus were plantation workers from Lombok who had just arrived in Malaysia.
A total of 55 workers landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) around 9 pm on Wednesday. Of those, 45 travelled on the tour bus, while 10 others took a separate van.
One of the injured passengers is receiving treatment at Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail for serious injuries, while the remaining 14 injured workers, who sustained minor wounds, have been discharged.
The Indonesian Consulate is currently handling arrangements to send the deceased back home and is coordinating with Malaysia’s Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) for compensation matters.
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