Crash survivor: I’m glad to be alive but sad for 7
KUALA KRAI: “The ustaz was driving fast and he tried to overtake a car in front. However, he lost control of the van and it skidded down a slope and crashed into a house.
“That was the last thing I remember before losing consciousness,” said tahfiz student Muhammad Syuwari Mana Sikana , 14, at Kuala Krai Hospital yesterday.
Syuwari was one of the seven students from Maahad Tahfiz AlHashimi from Kampung Tualang here who survived the accident, which killed seven others at Km 55 of the Kuala Krai-Kota Baru road near Kampung Telekung here on Friday.
The group was on their way to a Quran recital programme in Kota Baru.
Teachers Muhamad Hamzi Muhammad Husham, who was driving and Muhammad Izzat Mohamad Nor, both 24, were also injured.
Syuwari who broke his right arm in the accident said he woke up a few hours later at the hospital and a teacher informed him that seven of his friends died in the incident.
“I am glad to be alive, but feel sad for the seven. We were quite close at the schoool,” he said.
Syuwari said he would rest for a while at his hometown in Dabong here after being discharged from hospital before continuing his studies.
He had been at Maahad Tahfiz Al-Hashimi for two years and, so far, had memorised 17 chapters of the Quran.
His mother, Katika Ismail, 14, said Syuwari had regained consciousness when she arrived at the hospital at about 3pm on Friday
“I am happy that he survived the accident, but it will be hard for him to forget the loss of so many friends,” she said.
Katika said Syuwari could not remember anything about the accident at first, but his memories had started to come back.
The driver of the van was found to possess no valid driving licence.
Kuala Krai deputy district police chief Deputy Superintendent Zulkarnain Ismail Al Haj said investigation, however, showed that the driver Muhammad Hamzi Mohammad Husham, 24, was free from any traffic summons. He said a urine test for drug also was negative.
Zulkarnain said police had recorded a statement from the driver to complete the investigation.