‘SPEEDING LIKELY CAUSE OF CRASH THAT KILLED 7 STUDENTS’
Driver has no licence, says acting state police chief
POLICE believe speeding was to blame for Friday’s van accident that killed seven tahfiz students at Km55 of the Kuala Krai-Kota Baru road near Kampung Telekung here.
Acting Kelantan police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Din Ahmad said checks showed that a replacement driver was behind the wheel when the incident occurred.
He said the 24-year-old male had no valid driving licence, but the original driver, who was also in the vehicle, had one.
“He (the replacement driver) probably wanted to drive the van and the original driver allowed him. He is undergoing treatment at Machang Hospital.
“Investigations are not completed, but we believe speeding is the main cause of the accident.
“The driver was trying to overtake another car when the incident occurred.”
Din said the driver would be asked to assist in the investigation after he was discharged.
“We will get statements from witnesses, including the driver of the car in front of the van. The investigation papers will be submitted to the public prosecutor once the probe is completed.”
Din said the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
Seven tahfiz students were killed and another seven people were injured after a van ferrying them crashed into a house in Kampung Telekung on Friday.
The van was ferrying 12 students and two teachers to a Quran recital programme in Kota Baru.
Five students were killed at the scene while two others died at Kuala Krai hospital.
Three students and a teacher, who were injured, are undergoing treatment at several hospitals in the state.
Maahad Tahfiz Al-Hashimi principal Mohd Azam Tarmizi said the students were Ahmad Syakir Azfar Abd Rahim, 16, Muhammad Faiz Hafizuddin Mohamad Izahir, 17, and Muhammad Nur Haikal Fauzi, 14.
The teacher was identified as Muhamad Hamzi Muhammad Husham, 24.
Azam said Syakir was warded at Kuala Krai Hospital; Faiz at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital here; Nur Haikal at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital here; and, Hamzi at Machang Hospital.
“Haikal has woken up from a coma, but he is traumatised.
“The others are still in critical condition.”
Azam said the school operated as usual yesterday although students were mourning the deaths of their schoolmates.
He said to reduce their grief, the management had been conducting special prayers for the victims from Saturday.
“The incident left a deep impact on the students.
We will hold prayers every night until a certain time, especially for those who were killed in the accident.”