By Shazrina Sofia
Edited by Farah Liyana
Police officers at the scene, collecting the bodies of the deceased victims | Credits: Bernama
AYER KEROH, 28th December 2024: The festive season took a depressing turn when seven died and 33 were injured in a fatal crash at the 204km mark of the North-South Expressway (PLUS), northbound on 23rd December 2024.
The road accident, which took place around 8:30 p.m., involved five vehicles: two trailer trucks, a sedan, a Toyota Estima MPV and a tour bus carrying 27 passengers near the Ayer Keroh Rest and Service Area (R&R).
According to Alor Gajah’s Police Superintendent, Ashari Abu Samah, the horrific crash was attributed to the first trailer truck’s tire getting detached and landing in the middle of the road, which the bus could not avoid in time. As a result, the bus lost control and skidded into the opposite lane (northbound) where it collided with the sedan, causing the car to swerve into the left lane and crash into another trailer and the MPV.
Five of the passengers aboard the MPV were pronounced dead on the scene, namely Khairul Ikhwan Mazupi, his wife Fadzlenna Ramli, their two-year-old son Muhammad Umar, Fadzlenna’s father Ramli Ab Wahab and passenger Fauziah Jaafar. The couple’s two other children, Nur Sofea Humaira and Muhammad Uwais Al-Qarni were brought to Hospital Melaka for treatment.
The other victims of the fatal crash include the tour bus driver, Noorisnien Khamid and Lamrah Asid Ali, a Singaporean passenger of the bus. The bodies were sent to Melaka Hospital’s Forensic Department for post-mortem, whilst the number of injured victims totalled up to 33.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke expressed his condolences and confirmed that an investigation on the fatal crash is underway. This road accident is currently being investigated under Section 41(1) of Malaysia’s Road Transport Act 1987. —TBC
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