IPOH: Thirty-nine passengers, including two children, had a harrowing experience after the bus they were travelling in landed in a ditch at KM265 of the North-South Expressway near here.
The group from Kupang, Kedah, were on their way to attend a religious event here when a car crashed into their bus at about 7.20am yesterday.
Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the passengers, aged between nine and 80, were sent to Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun and a clinic here for treatment.
He said 21 of them suffered injuries and received treatment.
“The remaining passengers and drivers of both vehicles were not injured,” he said in a statement.
Harrowing experience: Bus passengers sitting in a ditch as Fire and Rescue Department personnel provide aid along KM265 of the North-South Expressway near Ipoh, Perak.
ACP Abang Zainal Abidin said initial investigations showed that the mishap was due to the car driver losing control of his vehicle.
“The car spun and crashed into the front part of the bus, which then landed in the ditch,” he said.
He said the accident caused a traffic snarl.
“Police opened a contra-flow lane between KM263 and KM265 on the northbound road to ease the congestion,” he added.
ACP Abang Zainal Abidin said the case will be investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act for reckless and inconsiderate driving.
He appealed to witnesses to contact investigating officer Insp Jong Pit Chia at 016-884 9163 to assist in the investigation.
