Double-decker bus crashes into lorry near Simpang Pulai

IPOH: A double-decker bus carrying 32 passengers crashed into the back of a stalled lorry, killing the bus driver and seriously injuring 13 people including several foreigners.  

The incident occurred at 4.20am Thursday at KM285.1 of the North-South Expressway near Simpang Pulai, here, said Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Sum Chang Keong.  

He said the foreigners who were seriously hurt included two Germans, two Pakistanis, two Bangladeshis, one Iranian and one Myanmar.  

Twenty others including a baby sustained minor injuries.  

"We believe the lorry driver had stopped at the emergency lane after experiencing some technical trouble with his vehicle. 

"He was the only person who managed to escape unhurt in the incident," ACP Sum said, adding that both vehicles were travelling south at the time. 

All bus passengers and the lorry co-driver were rushed to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for treatment. 

A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the bus driver was flung out of his vehicle on impact of the crash and landed under the wheel of the lorry, which was laden with rubber.

It took firemen over an hour to retrieve the driver, who was then rushed by ambulance to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.