GEORGE TOWN: Two friends were killed in a suspected hit-and-run accident, while four others were injured in a separate collision involving a car and an oil tanker in Penang on Thursday (Oct 22).
In the fatal accident, a 22-year-old man and his 20-year-old female friend died after their motorcycle was allegedly hit from behind by an unidentified vehicle along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway at about 4am.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rozak Muhammad said the victims, both from Padang Sedai, Kedah, were travelling from George Town towards the Penang Bridge when the accident occurred near the junction leading to the bridge and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
"Initial investigations found that an unidentified vehicle had hit the motorcycle from behind before fleeing the scene," he said in a statement on Thursday.
He said both victims died at the scene, and their bodies were sent to the Penang Hospital forensic department for post-mortem examinations.
Police received information about the accident at about 4.30am.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Those with information about the accident are urged to contact investigating officer Insp Shahidatul Alyaa Nordin at 019-6886106.
In a separate accident earlier the same day, four people were injured when their sedan collided with an oil tanker at KM3.4 of the Penang Bridge, heading from Perai towards the island.
The Penang Fire and Rescue Department said it received an emergency call at 12.13am and dispatched 12 personnel from the Perai fire station.
Firefighters arrived at the scene at 12.21am.
All four occupants of the BMW, including its 44-year-old driver, had been taken to hospital by bystanders before firefighters arrived.
The 53-year-old tanker driver escaped unhurt.
Firefighters carried out cleaning work to remove debris and other hazards from the road, ending the operation at about 1.11am.
