Three dead, eight injured in eight-vehicle pile-up near Machap toll plaza

KLUANG: Three individuals were killed while eight others were injured in an accident involving eight vehicles, including three lorries, near the Machap toll plaza Monday (Dec 28).

Kluang OCPD Asst Comm Low Hang Seng said the incident took place at about 4.15pm Monday at KM85.5 of the Johor Baru-Ayer Hitam road.

"Based on initial investigations, all eight vehicles were heading towards Machap from Simpang Renggam.

"Seven of the vehicles then stopped at a traffic light near the toll plaza when a lorry coming from the back crashed into the vehicles in front of it," he said.

He said that two of the victims who were in one of the cars died at the scene while another victim from the same car died at Kluang Hospital.

"The victims who died are between the ages of 52 and 55 years old while those who were injured are aged from five to 57 years old.

"Meanwhile, three other individuals involved in the accident were uninjured," he said, adding that the drivers from three of the vehicles were also not found at the scene.

He said a post mortem would be conducted at about 9am Tuesday (Dec 29) on the victims who had died.

"The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

"We have also arrested a 27-year-old man, who is the driver of the lorry, to assist in investigations," he said.

Meanwhile, Ayer Hitam Fire and Rescue operation commander Mohamad Shamin Mohamed Salikin said the department received a call about the incident at about 3.46pm on Monday (Dec 28) and deployed 10 personnel to the scene.

"Two of victims were declared dead by medical officers from the Health Department at the scene and the remains have been handed over to the police for further action," he said Monday (Dec 28).

He added that the injured victims were sent to the Kluang Hospital for treatment.