Bridge collapse was second tragedy for victim’s family

PETALING JAYA: Tragedy has struck twice for the family of Nurina Edwin Abdullah, who died when a pedestrian bridge under construction collapsed on her van, killing her and a colleague.

Nurina, 47, and Norhayati Abdullah, 42, died at the scene in the incident on Wednesday evening when part of a pedestrian bridge under construction near the Middle Ring Road 2 in Desa Tun Razak here collapsed and fell on the van they were travelling in.

Her brother-in-law, Muhammad Raffidin Mohd Jufri, 33, said that she had just lost her husband last year.

“We last met three days ago when she came over for a meal,” he said when met outside Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz mortuary here yesterday.

Preliminary urine test results showed (the lorry driver was) positive for methamphetamine.

ACP Zulkefly Yahya

The Negri Sembilan-based journalist said that Nurina, who worked at a factory in Subang Jaya for around 10 years, was saving up money to buy her own car.

He added that Nurina will be buried in Lundu, Sarawak.

Three others in the van – two women and the driver – suffered serious injuries and are being treated at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

All five are locals and the women are factory workers on their way to work.

In the incident, a trailer lorry carrying an excavator was believed to have hit the scaffolding of the pedestrian bridge located in front of Terminal Bersepadu Selatan.

That resulted in construction debris falling on the factory van.

Police said that the trailer driver tested positive for drugs and has been remanded for four days.

“Preliminary urine test results showed positive for methamphetamine,” said City Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Asst Comm Zulkefly Yahya.

He said the factory van driver suffered injuries to his shoulder, bruises on his lungs, and internal bleeding. The two female survivors both have leg injuries.

Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said that there was a lot of concern over the incident, which had affected public confidence in road safety.

“Action has to be taken as lives have been lost, in accordance with the law,” he said when contacted.

Lee said those involved in construction activities must ensure that all rules and regulations pertaining to safety are complied with.

“Workers need to put the necessary signs to ensure the safety of not only their workers but also of road users,” he said.