GERIK: One of the injured survivors of the recent bus crash in Gerik says she smelled something burning in the moments leading up to the accident.
Nur Irdina Huri, 22, also claimed the bus was speeding and swerved erratically while descending a hilly stretch of road.
"I wasn’t asleep during the incident, it happened so fast. I managed to crawl out of the bus through a small opening, but I could not help my friends because it was so dark," said Nur Irdina, a student of Early Childhood Education at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). She sustained injuries to her waist and a sprained leg.
Another student who survived the crash, Aleeya Maisarah Azizzani, recalled the terrifying moments leading up to the accident and the heartbreak that followed.
The 21-year-old survivor, who is pursuing a degree in Arabic and Education, recounted how the journey began around 9pm in Jerteh. She and other passengers boarded the bus bound for Tanjung Malim after the Aidiladha holidays.
"Some passengers said they smelled something burning earlier, but I only noticed it when we were near Tanah Merah. I thought maybe the bus would stop to check," she said.
She described how, at one point, while descending a hilly stretch near Jeli, the bus sped up and hit a pothole, nearly swerving off to the right.
"I was sitting on the right side, and I was getting nervous. I started reciting prayers. The driver slowed down after that, but then he suddenly sped up again.
"I did not sleep after the moment the bus hit the pothole. I had a bad feeling, and I stayed awake," she said when met at the Gerik district police headquarters here.
Moments later, she noticed the bus taking a sharp turn before veering to the left and crashing into the road divider.
"I didn’t know about the blue car that was also involved because I was seated at the back. After the crash, I could only get myself out because my back was hurting badly. I could not help anyone else.
"Some of my friends were screaming for help, others were trapped with injured legs, and some had already gone silent," she said, breaking down.
When she climbed out, she saw someone lying in a drain.
"At first, I thought they were unconscious, but later I heard someone say their head had burst open.
"Emergency services arrived after a delay due to the remote location. In total, 15 people died in the crash, including 13 at the scene and two later at the hospital.
"I used someone’s phone to call my family, but it was 3am and no one answered at first. Later, they finally picked up. Many families didn’t even know their children had died," she said.
She herself sustained a bump on the head, a sprained leg, and back pain due to the impact.
"My family is here, and we are heading back to my hometown in Besut, Terengganu," she said.
Earlier, it was reported that fifteen UPSI students had died after the bus they were travelling crashed into a car near Gerik.
A total of 42 students, a bus driver, an attendant, and four occupants from the other vehicle were involved in the crash.
The accident occurred when the bus overturned and the car veered into a ditch, with both vehicles heading from Jeli towards Gerik.
