Four die in Pendang car crash

Tragic end: Firefighters putting out flames on the vehicle along the North-South Expressway near Pendang, Kedah.

ALOR SETAR: A driver was trapped in a burning car while three others in another vehicle died on the spot in an early morning accident near Pendang.

"Investigations found that the first car, with three people in it, had lost control, causing it to swerve and collide head-on with the second car," said Pendang OCPD Deputy Supt Arriz Sham Hamezah.

The crash resulted in the first car skidding to the right side of the road and crashing into the road divider.

The second car then burst into flames with the driver still trapped inside.

All four were pronounced dead at the scene of the tragedy.

In a statement, DSP Arriz Sham said they received a distress call around 2am informing them of the fatal accident at KM58.4 of the North-South Expressway near Pendang.

He said police were looking for witnesses and the next of kin of the deceased.

Kedah Fire and Rescue Department director Sayani Saidon said the victims were identified as Shahrin Hafi Omar, 49, Mohamad Syafiq Kassim, 26, and the third person only as Arni, 52.

"The fourth victim who was burnt to death has yet to be identified," she said.

She also said that 17 firefighters from the Pendang and Jalan Raja fire stations were despatched to the scene of the accident.

"Upon reaching the scene, they saw one of the vehicles in flames and the driver trapped inside, while the other car had turned turtle with three victims still in the car," added Sayani.

The fire was extinguished at 2.56am and firefighters managed to extricate the three bodies from the car that turned turtle at 4.52am.

The operation ended at 6.05am, Sayani said in a statement.