Woman, driver burnt to death

MUAR: A local woman and her Singaporean male friend were burnt to death, while another woman suffered serious injuries when the car they were in burst into flames after crashing into a utility box in Jalan Bakri here early yesterday.

The dead were identified as Chan Choon Siang, 35, who was from Bukit Bakri here, and driver Tay Hock Lai, 55.

Chan’s friend, Lynette Lim, 44, who was in the front seat of the Mazda, suffered injuries and was rushed to Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in the 3am incident.

Chan’s sister, who declined to be named, said the last time she spoke to her younger sister was about 8pm on Sunday night.

“My sister told me she wanted to return to Bukit Bakri. She said she missed home.

“It’s so sad. The accident happened five minutes by car from our house,” said Chan’s sister at the hospital mortuary yesterday.

Muar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azman Ayob said the car was heading for Bukit Bakri from Air Hitam.

“Checks revealed that the driver lost control of the car before crashing into a utility box and bursting into flames.

“Passers-by called the police and the Fire and Rescue Department, which sent a fire engine to put out the fire.”