IPOH, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- The fatal crash in Gerik, which claimed the lives of four people, including a child, was believed to have occurred after the Perodua Axia they were travelling in lost control before crashing into a lorry at KM 38.5 of the East-West Highway (JRTB) Gerik-Jeli, near Tasik Banding.
Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said police received information about the accident involving three vehicles, a Hino lorry, a Proton Persona and a Perodua Axia, at about 1.30 pm today.
He said preliminary investigations found that the Perodua Axia, driven by a 19-year-old man with four passengers, a 31-year-old man, a 40-year-old woman and two children, was travelling from Gerik towards Jeli.
At the same time, the Proton Persona, driven by a 20-year-old man with three passengers, was travelling in the opposite direction from Jeli, Kelantan towards Gerik, while a lorry driven by a 42-year-old man with a 34-year-old male attendant was also travelling in the same direction.
“Based on preliminary investigations, the Perodua Axia is believed to have lost control before entering the opposite lane and hitting the rear side of the Proton Persona before crashing into the front of the lorry behind the Proton Persona.
“The impact caused the Perodua Axia to become wedged underneath the lorry and be dragged for about three to seven metres,” he said in a statement tonight.
Mohd Alwi said four victims in the Perodua Axia, comprising two men, a woman and a child, were pronounced dead, while another child was seriously injured and taken to Gerik Hospital for treatment.
He said the driver and passengers of the Proton Persona, as well as the lorry driver and attendant, were not injured.
“An inspection of the scene has been conducted, and photographs were taken to assist investigations. All three vehicles involved will be sent for technical inspection.
“Efforts to identify independent witnesses and obtain closed-circuit television (CCTV) and dashcam footage, if available, are also underway,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Members of the public with information about the accident are urged to come forward to assist investigations.
-- BERNAMA