6 KILLED IN 4 JOHOR CRASHES
Dozens also injured in accidents on Saturday, Sunday
SIX people, including an infant, were killed and dozens injured in four road crashes in the state over the weekend. An express bus was involved in a collision with two heavy vehicles at Km142 of the North-South Expressway near the Pagoh exit yesterday, resulting in the deaths of the bus driver and two passengers.
The driver was identified as Shuaib Mohd Unny, 50. Police have yet to reveal the identities of the passengers.
The driver of a container lorry sustained injuries to his hip, while 22 other bus passengers escaped with minor injuries. Three passengers were unhurt in the 1.15pm incident.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Zaharudin Rasip said investigations revealed that the container lorry grazed against a tanker lorry as both vehicles were entering the expressway after exiting the Pagoh toll.
“That caused the driver of the container lorry to lose control of his vehicle, which crashed onto its side and slid to the middle of the expressway.
“The express bus, en route to Kuala Lumpur from Johor Baru, rammed into the rear of the container, which became unhooked from the prime mover,” he said.
All the bodies were sent to Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital here.
Those injured received treatment at the hospital, too.
In Kota Tinggi, two adults and an infant were killed in separate accidents on Saturday and yesterday.
In the first incident, an 8month-old girl died when her family’s car was involved in a collision with another vehicle at Km70 of Jalan Kota Tinggi-Mersing, near Dusun Panti, at 5.10pm on Saturday.
District police chief Superintendent Ashmon Bajah said the family vehicle lost control and veered into oncoming traffic. It was crashed into a Proton Wira.
“The infant was killed at the scene. She was believed to have crashed headlong into the car dashboard.”
In the second incident, a 33year-old man was killed when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a road safety rail at Km25 of Jalan Johor Baru-Mersing.
Rosli Suder, of Kampung Mawai, died at the scene.
In the third incident, a Bangladeshi worker was killed and 12 of his colleagues injured when the bus they were travelling in was involved in a collision with a sand-laden lorry at Km5 of Jalan Sungai Rengit-Kota Tinggi yesterday.
Ashmon said police had yet to determine the identity of the deceased, adding that the 12 other workers sustained minor injuries.
“The accident occurred at 4.25pm when the lorry crashed into the side of the bus while negotiating a turn.”
Bandar Penawar Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Azlan Mohd Sobri said six firemen were despatched to the scene.
“We understand that all the workers were from Bangladesh and Indonesia, and worked for a refinery and petrochemical integrated development project.
“They were on their way home from work when the incident occurred,” he said, adding that the injured received treatment at a nearby clinic.