Authorities looking into cycling groups after eight teens killed

Six of the victims died on the spot, while two others died on the way to hospital. Eight others were injured, with two of them in critical condition.

JOHOR BARU: The teenage cyclists in the accident early Saturday morning, which saw eight killed and a further eight injured, are suspected to be members of a “joyriding” cycling group.

The Johor Education Department will gather information on such cycling groups from the survivors of the tragedy.

Its director Saharudin Sharif said that the department was aware of the existence of such groups, but did not have any information on their numbers or why students joined them.

“We want to reach out to these students and advise them to give up the habit of joyriding at night,” he told reporters outside the Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) mortuary here on Saturday.

He said these cycling groups had different names for the bicycles they use, such as basikal lajak or basikal ciput, which had various modifications, including having their brakes removed.

“They normally travel in groups of 10 or more,” said Saharudin.

In the 3.30am incident on Saturday, a car driven by a 22-year old woman ploughed into a group of teenage cyclists along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam near the Mahmoodiah Muslim cemetery here.

Six of the victims died on the spot, while two others died on the way to hospital. Eight others were injured, with two of them in critical condition.

According to Bernama, the deceased have been identified as: 

1. Muhammad Firdauz Danish M. Azahar, 16, studying at SMK Damai Jaya

2. Mohammad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, 14, SMK Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat

3. Haizad Kasrin, 16, SMK Permas Jaya

4. Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Maruddin, 14, SMK Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat

5. Fauzan Halmijah, 13, SMK Desa Cemerlang

6. Muhamad Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimee, 15, SMK Dato Abdul Rahman Yasin

7. Mohamad Azhar Amir, 16, SMK Permas Jaya

8. Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14, SMA Swasta Pasir Gudang