Three killed in burning car

Tragic drive: A fireman making sure the car, which caught fire in the crash along the expressway in Johor, has been completely doused.

TANGKAK: Three people were burnt to death and three women were severely injured after the car they were travelling in crashed into another vehicle and burst into flames along the North-South Expressway near here.

Ledang OCPD Supt Mohd Salleh Razak said the incident occurred about 7am while the car was heading south near here yesterday.

“The car is believed to have hit the back of another moving vehicle, which we are still trying to ascertain, before it skidded to the left side of the road and burst into flames.

“Three of the six people inside the car pe­­rished in the fire. The others suffered se­rious injuries.

“The survivors were pulled out by other motorists,” he said here yesterday.

A team of firemen from the Tangkak fire and rescue station were rushed to the scene after receiving a call at 7.13am.

Supt Mohd Salleh said it was believed that the six in the car were friends, aged between 17 and 22, travelling to Johor Baru from Kuala Lumpur.

“Only one dead victim has been identified – G. Kalidasan, 22, from Bandar Baru Puchong,” he said, adding that Kalidasan’s family members had been informed of the accident.

He said the three severely injured wo­­men were identified as K. Sharmila, 22, Suvathavanu, 18, and Padisan, age unknown. They were sent for treatment at the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Muar.

“The three survivors were pulled out of the burning vehicle by passing motorists, but the driver, front seat passenger and a back seat passenger could not be saved.

“Their bodies have been sent to the Tangkak Hospital,” he added.

Supt Mohd Salleh said police were investigating the case under the Road Transport Act for reckless driving, urging witnesses to contact the nearest police station or the state police hotline at 07-221 2999.