Highway chaos: A stationary lorry triggered a chain reaction collision involving a car and pickup truck, resulting in three fatalities and injuries at KM58.4 of the North-South Expressway.
ALOR SETAR: Three colleagues were killed when the car they were travelling in crashed into the rear of a tipper truck at KM58.4 of the North-South Expressway here.
The deceased were Daniel Thean Yong Shen, 26, as well as Edwin Jackson Anak Naga and Lew Kai Chun, both 32, who were renovation contractors.
A fourth person in the car, the 27-year-old driver, sustained injuries during the 3.20am incident on Wednesday.
Pendang OCPD Supt Rodzi Abu Hassan said the group was heading to Jitra from Pendang.
The car they were travelling in rammed into the tipper truck that was parked on the right lane.
He said the left lane was closed for road repairs at the time.
“Seeing the stationary lorry in the right lane, the driver couldn’t stop in time to avoid a collision.
“There were no warnings signs to indicate that the lorry was stationary.
“The car struck the lorry and then grazed two more lorries parked in the left lane.
“A pickup truck following closely behind also crashed into the lorries.
“All three car passengers in the car were confirmed dead at the scene and had to be extricated from the wreckage, while several others from the other vehicles were hurt,” he said.
Supt Rodzi said the investigation found that the accident had been caused by the lorry that was parked on the right lane without indicators or supervision.
He said the stretch of the highway was straight and dry, but dark during the incident without lights or proper warning signs.
Supt Rodzi said the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
