Three killed after SUV hits lorry

BATU PAHAT: Three people died on the spot and one was badly injured when the Toyota Fortuner they were travelling in skidded after hitting the back of a lorry.

The victims were on their way to Malacca from Johor Baru when the collision occurred at KM75.7km of the North-South Expressway between Macap and Ayer Hitam at around 5.20pm.

The deceased were identified as Lai Kuen Seng, 47, and Gan Kim Leng, 74, and a 56-year-old female, Low King Kee, 56.

V. Jaya Kumar, 64, who suffered head injuries in the collision has been admitted to Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital here.

According to Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Wahid Musa, the Lai was driving the Malacca-registered SUV.

“Initial investigations showed that the driver of the SUV lost control of the vehicle and swerved to the left side of the highway and turned turtle after hitting the lorry,’’ he said.

The lorry driver, Mohd Ismail Saring, 57, from Bandar Seri Alam, Masai, in Pasir Gudang, escaped unhurt.

ACP Abdul Wahid said police are waiting for the next-of-kin of the victims to claim the bodies.