Two burnt to death in taxi on Penang second bridge

Firemen carrying out investigations at the scene

NIBONG TEBAL: Two charred bodies, believed to be that of a taxi driver and a passenger, were found in a Proton Persona car that caught fire at KM27 on the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah bridge.

South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Shafee Abdul Samad said a bridge patrol unit saw the taxi stopping on the road shoulder with two men inside at about 8.10am Saturday with smoke coming out from the car.

A member of the patrol unit ran to the taxi and tried to help the victims but was unsuccessful.

“There were loud noises coming from the engine and the fire spread quickly," said Supt Shafee.

The patrol unit also tried to put out the fire but was unsuccessful and the car was burnt before he could call the police.

Police have obtained the CCTV footage of the incident.

Meanwhile, the owner of the taxi, A. Gopal Krisnan, said the driver of the car was his son, G. Saravanan, 28, a teacher in Simpang Ampat, who has been driving the taxi in his free time the last two years.

Supt Shafee said police are still checking on the identity of the other victim.

He urged those who have lodged a missing person report to contact the south Seberang Prai district police headquarters at 04-58582222.