By Aida Aziz
Photo Police
IPOH: A bus carrying 40 passengers including the driver was found to have skidded and overturned, believed to be caused by a car losing control and entering the left lane at kilometer (km) 264.5 of the North-South Expressway, southbound here.
According to Ipoh District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad, preliminary investigations found a 44-year-old local man driving a car from Kulim to Ipoh.
He explained that upon reaching the scene, the car he was driving lost control and entered the bus lane in the left lane, subsequently colliding with the right rear portion of the bus.
“The accident occurred around 7.20 am on Sunday, as a result of the collision, the car spun 360 degrees and once again collided with the front right portion of the bus.
“This caused the bus to lose control and skid into the drain on the left shoulder of the road.
“As a result, a total of 39 victims, including bus passengers aged between 9 and 80, were sent to Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) and Greentown Clinic, Ipoh for further treatment.
“A total of 21 victims with serious and minor injuries are currently being treated at HRPB, while 20 others including the car and bus driver are uninjured,” he said in a media statement here today.
According to him, the case is being investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (driving without due care and consideration).
Therefore, he urged members of the public who witnessed the accident to contact the Case Investigating Officer, Inspector Jong Pit Chiao, at 016-8849163 or to come to the nearest police station to assist in the investigation.
Earlier, the media reported that a total of 41 passengers including the driver were rescued after the tour bus they were on skidded and overturned at kilometer (km) 264.5 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS), southbound today.
Assistant Director of Operations Division of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Perak, Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad, said the bus was involved in an accident with a car.
It is understood that all of them from the bus were on their way from Kupang, Kedah to Ipoh to attend a religious ceremony.
