2 DIE IN BUS CRASH
36 injured when vehicle crashes into divider
TWO people were killed and 36 injured when a double-decker express bus crashed into a road divider on the Ipoh-Lumut Highway near Batu Gajah Perdana yesterday.
Bus driver Mohamad Azizul Che Aziz, 31, and passenger Munzirah Jalaludin, 20, died at the scene.
The bus, which was en route to Lumut from here, was carrying 37 passengers when the accident occurred at 5am.
“All injured passengers were taken to Batu Gajah Hospital,” Batu Gajah Fire and Rescue Department chief Mohd Jamaluddin Mat Yusop said.
The department’s operations chief, Zainal Abidin Wok, said they received a distress call at 5.08am.
“Two people were found dead at the scene. Firefighters are clearing up the site.”
Wan Mohd Amir Erfan Wan Mohd Amin, 19, who was seated on the top deck, said he was awoken by a loud bang when the bus hit the divider.
The Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara, Seri Iskandar campus, student said most passengers were asleep when the accident occurred.
Munzirah was also a student in the same institution.
Amir Erfan said his legs were pinned down and he fell on the floor.
“Before the accident occurred, I noticed that the bus was going fast. After the accident, passengers who were not injured or suffered light injuries got out of the bus.”
He said he sustained cuts from his legs getting stuck.
Mohammad Syamim Zikri Mat Zaki, 18, said he was asleep on the lower deck when the accident occured. He was seated behind the driver.
He sustained a broken hand from the concrete debris that entered the bus after it hit the divider.
“I could not feel my right hand.” He said his father would take him home to Besut, Terengganu, adding that he would receive treatment at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.
Batu Gajah deputy police chief Superintendent Tan Boon Hooi said three passengers sustained severe injuries.
“Two of the three were sent to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for treatment.”