Holiday joy turns to grief
> 2 die as car hits pillar of inactive Batu Tiga toll plaza
SHAH ALAM: The inactive Batu Tiga toll plaza is turning out to be a “killer stretch” after it claimed two lives early yesterday when the car they were travelling in hit the pillar of one of the unused booths during the Chinese New Year festive occasion.
This is the second fatal accident at the toll plaza following another incident where two others lost their lives on Jan 15.
In yesterday’s incident, the victims were identified as Fathurezza Khoirul Huda Halimsuyto, 31, and Noor Hidayah Mohamed Rezmi, 27.
Meanwhile in IPOH, the Menora Tunnel was closed to traffic yesterday morning which triggered a 5km traffic crawl due to an accident involving two vehicles at KM261.4 of the North-South Expressway, northbound.
The tunnel was eventually reopened at 12pm after clean-up works were completed.
In JOHOR, a married couple died in an accident at Km36, Jalan Johor Baru-Mersing near the road entering Taman Daiman Jaya, Johor Baru yesterday afternoon.
Edil Azhar Abdul Rahman Mohamed, 39, and his wife, Noraziah Mohamad Ali, 36, were in a car and were believed to be on their way home in Felda Pasak, here.
Kota Tinggi district police chief Supt Ahsmon Bajah said in the 4.45pm incident, a vehicle from Kota Tinggi heading towards Johor Baru entered into the opposite lane and collided with the car carrying the couple.
In the case of the crash at Batu Tiga toll plaza, Shah Alam district police chief ACP Baharudin Mat Taib said initial investigations revealed the duo were travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Shah Alam.
Fathurezza Khoirul Huda, who was driving, is believed to have lost control of the vehicle before ramming into the pillar.
“The duo were believed to be on their way home after celebrating Noor Hidayah’s birthday on Sunday.
“Fathurezza Khoirul Huda and Noor Hidayah were confirmed dead at the scene due to severe injuries.”
PLUS Malaysia Berhad, which is responsible for the highway, only expects the demolition of the toll plaza and another at Sungai Rasau to be completed in late March.
It said that removal of the toll equipment, signage and other assets had to be done before demolition of the physical structure could begin.