PETALING JAYA: Lying on a hospital bed, Mohd Amirul Fadhil Zulkifle's voice cracked as he tearfully apologised.
"I'm so sorry to all the students and families involved. The brakes suddenly stopped working," said the 39-year-old bus driver, according to Sinar Harian.
His words carried the weight of the tragic deaths of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students when the chartered bus he was driving from Jertih to Tanjung Malim overturned after colliding with a Perodua Alza on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik between 12.30am and 1am on Monday (June 9).
The accident had also left 31 others injured, including Amirul, his assistant, and the driver and three passengers of the MPV.
Amirul said he did not know how to face the victims' families.
"If there are parties who want to take legal action, what else can I say? I tried various things, but because the air (for the air brakes) was empty, everything stopped working, including the handbrake, and the gear couldn't be changed.
"I tried to avoid other vehicles, and as far as I can remember, I avoided four vehicles, including a lorry, before the accident," he said.
Amirul, who has been driving buses since 2016, is currently being treated at Taiping Hospital.
He said he had tried his best to prevent the situation from getting worse.
"Because the accident happened on a bend, I couldn't do anything. I shouted to the students to be ready and be alert as soon as I realised the brakes were not working.
"The students sitting at the front heard my instructions, but those in the back were mostly asleep. Maybe the screaming made them think I was angry.
"I wasn't going as fast as claimed by many because I am familiar with the Jeli-Gerik route, especially the downhill section where it happened," he said while holding back tears.
He said the accident caused him to lose consciousness for a moment before waking back up and calling to the students to get out through the broken windshield of the bus.
Amirul said he crawled out of the bus and broke down in tears when he saw the condition of the students.
"This is the first time I have been involved in an accident that has claimed a life, and as bus driver of course, I feel guilty," said the man from Besut, Terengganu.
