Detached part key to completing probe on Ayer Keroh crash, say cops
ALOR GAJAH: Melaka police have begun searching landfills in Segamat and Tangkak, Johor, for the missing front wheel of a trailer that caused the fatal Ayer Keroh crash on Dec 23 last year.
Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Ashari Abu Samah said efforts to locate the detached wheel have intensified after it was not sent for inspection at the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom).
“We have met the officer in charge of Propel (the company in charge of expressway maintenance) at the PLUS Malaysia Bhd office in Tangkak, Johor on the matter.
“We were provided details of the Propel truck driver tasked with transporting debris cleared from the crash site, and his statement will be recorded,” he said yesterday.
Supt Ashari said two statements – one from a lorry driver working for Propel’s sub-contractor and another from the driver of a Roll-On Roll-Off bin truck that likely transported the debris to the Segamat landfill – were recorded.He said the final statement from the Propel truck driver, who was at the crash site, is crucial in recovering the missing wheel.
“My men have started searching for the wheel at these two landfills in Johor yesterday,” said Supt Ashari.
He said recovering the wheel is an important factor in completing the investigation on the tragedy at KM204 of the North-South Expressway on Dec 23 last year that claimed seven lives, including five members of a family, and injured 33 others.
Supt Ashari said his men failed to recover the wheel at the scene of the accident.
He said police had no information regarding the wheel at the initial stage until it went viral from a video from the dashboard camera of a vehicle during the incident.
Supt Ashari said the statement from the 31-year-old truck driver also confirmed that the wheel had detached and was in the middle of the expressway at the time of the incident.
On Jan 2, Puspakom chief executive officer Mahmood Razak Bahman said his team had submitted its findings on the recent deadly crash in Melaka to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research for further action.
However, the inspection remains incomplete as the dislodged wheel has yet to be located.In a statement yesterday evening, Puspakom appealed to the public to share any image, video or information that could help with the recovery of the wheel, which has a rim diameter of 22.5 inches, and when combined with a fully inflated tyre, would weigh more than 100kg.
“This exhibit is critical in assisting investigations so that the victims’ families and the public can get a measure of certainty and closure over this tragedy,” said Mahmood.
Those with information about the incident can contact police, or Puspakom at 03-5101 7000.
