2 killed as tree falls on van

KUALA NERUS: The driver of a school van and a student were crushed to death yesterday in a freak accident when a tree fell on their vehicle in Jalan Batu RakitKuala Nerus.

A third occupant in the van was seriously injured, along with two women travelling in a Perodua Kancil.

The mahogany tree, believed to be more than 30 years old, fell on both vehicles.

Kuala Terengganu police chief Assistant Commissioner Idris Abdul Rafar said the incident happened at 1pm.

Terengganu Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin identified the deceased van driver as Mohd Amin Ibrahim, 36, and the student as Muhammad Zulfahmi Abdul Halim, 17.

Both died at the scene.

Zulfahmi was a student at Integrated Boarding School Batu Rakit, a co-ed religious school.

Shafruddin said the van ferrying the student was on its way to a programme at Permai Hotel in Jalan Sultan Mahmud.

A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the three injured were sent to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital.

The spokesman said they received a distress call and despatched 14 firemen to the scene at 1.30pm.

It is understood that villagers and motorists helped the injured while waiting for help to arrive.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who is Seberang Takir assemblyman, and Batu Rakit assemblyman Bazlan Abdul Rahman visited the crash site.