BUKIT MERTAJAM: Police have detained a trailer lorry driver to assist in investigations into a crash involving four vehicles at KM137.4 of the North-South Expressway (NSE) northbound here on Saturday (March 14).
Central Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Helmi Aris said the suspect, a 28-year-old local man, was detained after a urine test came back positive for methamphetamine.
"We applied for a remand order at the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate’s Court today and the court allowed the suspect to be remanded for four days until Wednesday (March 18) to facilitate investigations.
"The case is being investigated under Section 44(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for driving under the influence of drugs and causing an accident," he said in a statement on Sunday (March 15).
ALSO READ: Major crash in Seberang Jaya causes traffic snarl on North-South Expressway
Helmi said police received information on the incident at 3.15pm yesterday. Initial investigations found that the trailer lorry was travelling from Juru towards Seberang Jaya when it is believed to have gone out of control.
The trailer lorry then rammed into the rear of a sports utility vehicle in the right lane, dragging it before crashing into two other cars ahead.
The impact caused a second SUV to overturn and land in a drain on the right side of the road.
"Three occupants of the first SUV sustained serious injuries to the head, chest and legs, while five others suffered minor injuries. All victims were taken to Hospital Seberang Jaya for treatment," ACP Helmi said.
He urged anyone with information on the accident to contact traffic investigating officer Insp S Saravanan at 016-4525105, or go to the nearest police station.
It was reported that the accident caused a traffic jam stretching 9km on the northbound stretch between Juru and Permatang Pauh here. – Bernama
