Initial crash triggers deadly chain reaction
KUANTAN: Four motorcyclists were killed and several others injured in a 13-vehicle crash at KM246.4 of the East Coast Expressway near here.
The accident, which involved a car and 12 motorcycles, occurred at about 1am yesterday.
Kuantan police chief Asst Comm Ashari Abu Samah said the crash claimed the lives of Che Mohd Sufian Che Ghani, 40, Muhammad Hafiz Al Hakim Mazlan, 33, and Mohd Aizat Husni, 33, who were all riding motorcycles. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Another victim, Muhammad Safawi Md Noh, 24, died while receiving treatment at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), he said in a statement, Bernama reported.
Preliminary investigations found that the car, driven by a 25-year-old man from Kuantan, was travelling towards Kemaman when the crash occurred.
“Initial investigations indicate that the motorcycle ridden by Che Mohd Sufian struck the rear of the car before the rider fell onto the right lane.
“Several other motorcyclists travelling behind were unable to avoid the obstruction, resulting in a chain-reaction collision.”
ACP Ashari said a 13-year-old passenger in the car sustained a neck injury while the driver escaped unhurt.
All the 18 victims were treated at HTAA while two others received treatment at Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre here.
“Further investigations revealed that more than 30 motorcycles, believed to have been racing, were involved in the accident that claimed four lives,” he said when contacted.
Meanwhile, Che Mohd Sufian’s wife, Faridah Mat Asri, 39, said she was informed about the incident by a friend at about 1.30am.
The mother of four said her husband and several friends had travelled to Kuantan from Terengganu, among others, to enjoy a meal at a popular traditional Pahang food restaurant in the city.
“The last time I saw him was yesterday afternoon before I took our children to the beach.
“The last message I received from him was at midnight, and after that there were no more messages,” she told reporters when met at HTAA.
