Two killed in pedestrian bridge collapse

KUALA LUMPUR: Two women were crushed to death when a portion of a pedestrian bridge under construction near the Middle Ring Road 2 in Desa Tun Razak here collapsed and fell on the van they were travelling in.

Three other people in the van – two women and the driver – suffered serious injuries and are being treated at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

All five are locals and the women are reported to be factory workers who were on their way to work.

In the 6pm incident yesterday, a trailer lorry carrying an excavator is believed to have hit the scaffolding of the pedestrian bridge located in front of Terminal Bersepadu Selatan.

That resulted in the construction debris falling on the factory van, which was coming from the town centre.

Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Asst Comm Zulkefly Yahya said the lorry driver has been detained to facilitate investigations.

“How exactly the accident occurred is still under investigation.

“At this time (investigations show) the trailer lorry was not overloaded. Perhaps the collision was due to technical reasons, ” he said at the scene.

Grim task: Fire and Rescue Department personnel removing one of the victims from the rubble. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star

The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department said 23 firemen, three fire engines and two emergency rescue service vehicles from the Jalan Hang Tuah, Tun Razak and Cheras Fire Stations were dispatched to the scene.

The first victim was extricated from the rubble at about 9pm while the second was brought out about 15 minutes later.

The department spokesman said by 9.30pm, they had extricated the other three.

Developer Projek Lintasan Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Sdn Bhd said the incident involved an overloaded trailer that impacted scaffolding at the SUKE construction site.

“Please be informed that the trailer was a private vehicle and it was not involved in or linked with the construction of the SUKE highway in any way.”