Passengers: We were tossed about as bus overturned on expressway and fell into ravine.
TAIPING: Passengers in the express bus that overturned at KM228 of the North South Expressway near here described their ordeal as being tossed around before the vehicle finally landed on its side.
Wong Chien Cheng, 55, said the bus swerved and spun before falling into a ravine during the 6.30pm incident on Friday.
“Most of the passengers were awake. Many people panicked and it was chaotic inside the bus when it overturned,” he said.
The bus, said Wong, was not speeding and had been travelling slowly.
“According to the bus driver, a car had crashed into the bus, causing it to lose control.
“I could feel the bus swerving towards the side of the road after the collision,” he said, adding that he was returning to Ipoh after holidaying in Hat Yai, Thailand.
A Thai woman was killed on the spot in the incident.
According to the Fire and Rescue Department, the woman, in her 60s, was found below the overturned bus when the vehicle was winched by two cranes.
The bus, which had been travelling from Hat Yai to Singapore, was carrying 20 people, including the bus driver.
Taiping OCPD Asst Comm Osman Mamat said the deceased was identified as Jaroen Muangkhot, 60, adding that there were five other Thai passengers.
“All were treated at the Taiping and Kuala Kangsar hospitals,” he said.
ACP Osman confirmed that a car had grazed the bus, causing it to lose control.
He said the 40-year-old car driver, who is from Ipoh, was not hurt.
However, he said she would be remanded for four days to help with investigation.