Police: Trio, suspected of fleeing after vehicle theft, killed in crash

TUMPAT: Three men have been killed, two of them burnt to death, after the vehicle they were in was involved in an accident near Kampung Morak here early Thursday (Feb 3) morning.

Tumpat district police chief Supt Azmir Damiri said the accident happened at 2am after their vehicle crashed into a pillar before catching fire.

He said one of the victims, believed to be the driver, aged 33, was flung out of the vehicle while two others who were inside were burnt beyond recognition.

"Based on the information gathered, all three were believed to have stolen a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle from a house near Kampung Palekbang moments earlier.

"Initial investigations showed that four men went to the house in one vehicle and one of them drove off in the 4WD," he told reporters at district police headquarters.

Supt Azmir said the 4WD owner realised something was amiss when he heard his vehicle being started.

When he tried to confront the men, one of them threw a sharp object of him and the suspects sped off in both vehicles.

"The owner then pursued them in his other car," he said, adding that the vehicle with three suspects in it skidded and hit a concrete pillar near a house at Kampung Morak and burst into flames.

Supt Azmir said the vehicle owner continued to pursue the suspect driving his 4WD until it skidded and came to a halt in Kubang Kerian.

The suspect, however, managed to escape.

Supt Azmir said the case was being investigated under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code and Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1941.

He added that police were tracking down the remaining suspect. – Bernama