Five killed in two road accidents in Mersing

JOHOR BARU: Five people died in two road accidents in the state, which happened two hours apart.

The first accident occurred at around 4.20am Thursday (March 5) along Jalan Mersing-Endau, involving an MPV and a tow truck.

The driver and all three passengers of the MPV were killed after crashing into the truck.

Operation commander Asst Fire Supt Azhari Awi said some 22 firemen from the Mersing and Endau Fire and Rescue Department, along with five vehicles were deployed to remove the bodies trapped in the MPV.

The victims, all of whom are from Terengganu, have been identified as Mohammad Nurul Haq Mohamad, 22; Tengku Zahid Tengku Endut, 52; Kamaruddin Salim Mualaf, 51, and Muhammad Shazriq Adam, 19.

The driver and passenger of the tow truck suffered minor injuries.

In the second incident, which at happened at 6.20am on KM150.6 of the PLUS Expressway heading south, a car crashed into the back of a five-tonne lorry which was carrying water.

The driver of the car, M. Malar, 20, died on the spot.

The passenger K. Ramesh, 30, was stuck inside the vehicle and had to be removed by emergency personnel.

He is now receiving treatment at Hospital Muar.

Operation commander Senior Fire Officer 1 Abdul Rahman Jaafar said that the rescue operation to remove the victims involved some nine firemen from the Bukit Gambir Fire and Rescue Department.

The causes for the accidents are under investigation.

When contacted, Mersing OCPD Supt Cyril Edward Nuing confirmed receiving the report for the first case and said that the case will be investigated under section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Meanwhile, an investigation officer from the Tangkak police headquarters (IPD) said that investigations on the second case are still ongoing.