TELUK INTAN: Police have arrested the lorry driver involved in the fatal road accident involving nine Federal Reserve Unit personnel near here.
Hilir Perak OCPD Asst Comm Dr Bakri Zainal Abidin said the lorry driver in his 40s, did not sustain any injuries.
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He has been detained under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987.
“An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause and for us to gather further information that may assist in the case.
“As part of preliminary procedures, we conducted a drug test on the driver. So far, the results are negative,” he told reporters at the Teluk Intan Hospital’s mortuary here Tuesday (May 13).
ACP Dr Bakri said that as of now, eight fatalities occurred at the scene, and one person passed away at the hospital while receiving treatment in the red zone.
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He said currently, two victims are still being treated in the red zone and another seven are in the yellow zone.
“Of the nine deceased, two are non-Muslim and seven are Muslim. We are already assisting with the arrangements for both the non-Muslim and Muslim deceased.
“Post mortem will be conducted at 2.30pm, and the remains will be brought to the surau at the Hilir Perak District Police Headquarters for funeral prayers, and then to Sungai Senam Unit 5 in Ipoh for final respects,” he added.
He said the identities of the deceased would be released by the Perak Police Chief.
ACP Dr Bakri said there has been a lot of speculation online claiming that the death toll has reached ten.
“So we would like to clarify that as of now, there are only nine confirmed fatalities—eight died at the scene, and one passed away while receiving treatment in the red zone.
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“There are only nine deaths, not ten, as has been circulated in the media and on social platforms,” he said.
ACP Dr Bakri said the accident took place at KM15 of the Sungai Manik- Sungai Lampam road involving a convoy from the FRU (Unit 5)and a lorry transporting sand which collided head-on.
He said the convoy was on its way back to their base in Sungai Senam in Ipoh after completing their security assistance assignment in conjunction with the Chitra Pournami festival in Teluk Intan.
A total of 69 personnel were involved in security assistance.
“We are also urging members of the public who may have any information about the accident to come forward and assist in the investigation,” he said.
