Bus driver swerved to avoid animal, says cop
BUTTERWORTH: The driver of the Shamisha Express Bus involved in a crash at Km152 of the NorthSouth Expressway, near the Bukit Tambun exit yesterday, claimed the accident occurred as he was trying to steer clear of a crossing animal.
Seberang Prai Selatan district police chief Superintendent Shafee Abd Samad said the 40year-old driver had made an evasive action when he saw the animal.
“He said the animal dashed from the left to the right side of the road, which force him to make an evasive action to avoid it.
“The bus skidded, swerving to the right side of the road, before crashing into a road divider,” Shafee said.
Norazah Azizan, 29, was killed in the crash, which left 20 others injured.
The bus, which was heading north for Jitra, Kedah, from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan Kuala Lumpur, was ferrying 27 passengers and two drivers, all of whom are between 19 and 50.
Shafee said checks showed the bus driver had three summonses, which had yet to be settled, including a speeding offence in 2012.
He is expected to be charged at the Jawi magistrate’s court today under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
Meanwhile, Norazah’s brother, Mohd Ridzuan Azizan, 34, said his sister had told him via the WhatsApp application that she was heading home on Sunday.
“I was puzzled when I had not heard anything from her this morning (yesterday).
“She should have been home by dawn, but there was no message from her.
“My mother was notified by the police about her death about 10am, and only then, I got to know about it.
“I can’t believe it... I refuse to believe it (that she is dead),” Ridzuan said Seberang Jaya Hospital.
Norazah is a single mother of two children, ages 5 and 10, and has no permanent job.
She is the third among seven siblings, who supported her financially, after she got divorced a few years back.
He said the family had yet to tell Norazah’s children the bad news.
“It will be a difficult task. I will let my mother tell them about it. She may take care of them,” he added.
Norazah’s body was claimed by her family at the hospital at 4.35pm, and she was buried at her hometown in Pendang, Kedah, about 7pm.