KUANTAN: Six friends were killed after the car they were travelling in collided head-on with a one-tonne lorry on Jalan Karak Lama near Bentong.
The victims were identified as the driver, V. Mugilan, 25; K. Dineshvaran, 22; K. Alaganathan, 21; A. Kanabati Raja, 19; S. Kiisven, 17; and M. Paranthaman, 16.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Mohd Salahuddin Isa said the department received a distress call about the accident at 4.24am yesterday.
The crash occurred at KM86 of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway near Kampung Jambu Rias.
“The six men were found trapped inside the vehicle,” he said.
Acting Pahang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob said all six victims, who were friends, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Their bodies were sent to Hospital Temerloh for post-mortem.
He said the 31-year-old lorry driver sustained serious injuries to his legs and body.
“Investigations found that the car, driven by the 25-year-old victim, was travelling from Kuantan towards Kuala Lumpur.
“Upon reaching the scene, a downhill stretch with a bend, the driver is believed to have lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer into the opposite lane and collide head-on with the lorry,” he said in a statement, Bernama reported.
DCP Azry Akmar said the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
He reminded motorists to always obey traffic laws, drive prudently and avoid endangering themselves and other road users.
