Driver killed in crash with stolen lorry
TEMERLOH: It was a short-lived joy for two men who allegedly stole a three-tonne lorry in Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning when a trailer crashed into the vehicle at Km114 of the East Coast Highway several hours later.
Trailer driver Ahmad Thahir Samsu, 29, of Kota Tinggi, Johor, died on the scene of the 7.20am accident, while the two suspects travelling in the stolen lorry were injured.
District police chief assistant commissioner Zundin Mahmood said investigations revealed the lorry, driven by a 36year-old suspect travelling with a friend, was reported stolen at 5.30am in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.
He said the owner had lodged a report about the missing vehicle before the lorry was involved in the accident.
Zundin said checks revealed that the stolen lorry was travelling in the slow lane from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan when the trailer crashed into the rear of the vehicle.
“Both vehicles lost control and landed on their side in the highway. The trailer driver died on the spot while the two men in the lorry sustained injuries,” he said.
Zundin said the trailer driver’s body was sent to Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital for a post-mortem while the two suspects received treatment at the same hospital.