GERIK: The road where the fatal crash involving Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students occurred at KM53 of the East-West Highway is dark, downhill, and winding, says Perak police chief Datuk Comm Noor Hisam Nordin (pic).
He stated that 14 students were killed and 27 students injured, along with the 40-year-old bus driver and his 54-year-old co-driver, who also sustained injuries.
The accident happened between 12.30am and 1am on Monday (June 9) as the tour bus travelling from Terengganu to Tanjung Malim rammed into the rear of the Alza while both vehicles headed in the same direction towards Gerik.
"The tour bus, registered in Kedah, had been chartered to transport 42 UPSI students, comprising eight males and 34 females, back to their campus after a programme in Terengganu.
"The road conditions were good, and it was not raining, but the area is winding and dark. Initial investigations suggest the bus lost control and crashed into the back of the Alza," he said at a press conference at the Gerik district police headquarters on Monday (June 9).
Comm Noor Hisam noted that the car was occupied by a married couple and their two children, a six-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy, all of whom were injured and sent to Baling Hospital for treatment.
"Thirteen of the deceased have been sent to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, while the remaining two were taken to Gerik Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
"The identification and gender confirmation of the victims are still underway," he said.
He added that 23 women and four men were among the injured, all of whom were on the bus.
Several victims are receiving treatment in hospitals in Ipoh, Baling, Gerik, and Taiping.
"The students, aged 21 to 23, were believed to be from the East Coast region. The bus had departed Jerteh, Terengganu, at 9pm on Sunday and was expected to arrive in Tanjung Malim early Monday morning. The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving," he added.
He said they are examining all angles, including possible human negligence or mechanical failure.
"We are looking into the technical aspects, the driver’s alertness at the time, road conditions, and past records.
"It’s still too early to determine the exact cause. The bus driver sustained an arm injury and has yet to give a statement," police added.
Due to the limited capacity of Gerik Hospital, most of the bodies were sent to Ipoh, where facilities for autopsies are more comprehensive.
He urged the public not to speculate about the cause of the crash, especially claims that the bus was speeding, as there were no eyewitnesses at the time of the incident.
"We are also working closely with other agencies such as Puspakom and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to conduct a full technical evaluation of the bus," he added.
