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15 university students die after bus collides with MPV in Malaysia.
At least 15 people have died after a bus carrying students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Upsi) and a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) collided on a Malaysian highway in the early hours of June 9.
The accident took place at 1.10am along the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding in the town of Gerik in Perak state, according to reports in Malaysian media.
News website Free Malaysia Today reported that the bus had been travelling from Jerteh in Terengganu towards its main campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak.
A four-man team from Gerik Fire and Rescue Station, who arrived at the site nearly an hour later, found the bus overturned following the tragic accident. The MPV was found in a ditch, officials said.
A total of 48 people were involved in the crash – 42 students, four who were in the MPV, a bus driver and an attendant, said Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad.
Thirteen students died at the scene, while another two died at the hospital, the authorities said.
Thirty-three people had injuries ranging from broken arms and legs to minor wounds.
“Upon arrival (at the scene of the incident), we found that some of the victims had managed to exit the bus on their own, some were thrown out, and others remained trapped inside,” said Mr Sabarodzi.
He said rescuers had to use hydraulic cutting tools to cut open the rear of the bus to extract six victims trapped in the vehicle.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that the bus had hit the back of the MPV after losing control.
Perak police chief Noor Hisam Nordin said the authorities are currently conducting investigations to determine whether the crash involved human negligence or a technical problem.
Bukit Aman Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department director Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the police will set up a task force to probe the accident, The Star reported.
Several survivors claimed the bus had been speeding, and that there was a “burning smell”.
Ms Nur Irdina Huri, 22, said the bus was being driven in an erratic manner while descending a hilly stretch of the highway.
“It happened so fast… I managed to crawl out of the bus through a small opening, but I could not help my friends because it was so dark,” Ms Nur Irdina told The Star.
Ms Aleeya Maisarah Azizzani, 21, said some passengers had complained about a burning smell earlier.
She said that at one point, the bus was speeding near a hilly stretch of the highway.
It hit a pothole and nearly swerved off towards the right side of the road, she added.
“I was seated on the right side of the bus, and I was getting nervous. I started reciting prayers. The driver slowed down after that, but he suddenly sped up again,” she told The Star.
Moments later, Ms Aleeya noticed the bus taking a sharp turn before veering to the left and crashing into the road divider.
The accident left her with a bump on the head, a sprained leg and back pains.
“After the crash, I could only get myself out because my back was hurting badly. I could not help anyone else,” she said.
“Some of my friends were screaming for help, others were trapped with injured legs, and some had already gone silent,” she said, while crying.
Upsi’s deputy vice-chancellor for student affairs and alumni, Professor Norkhalid Salimin, said most of the bus passengers were from the nearby state of Terengganu, and they were on their way back to campus after celebrating Hari Raya Haji on June 7.
“They had gathered in Jerteh and chartered a private bus to return to campus after celebrating the festive break in their respective home towns,” Prof Norkhalid told national news agency Bernama.
A member of the public, who had rushed to help the victims upon hearing about the accident, described the scene as “chaotic” and “heart-wrenching”.
“It was tragic. Some were crying, some were screaming for help and were in pain as they were pinned in the wreckage,” said the man, who wanted to be known only as Mr Razali.
“There were also those who were urging their friends to recite the ‘shahadah’ (Islamic profession of faith), despite it being obvious that their friends were already dead,” Mr Razali told the New Straits Times.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he has instructed the Higher Education Ministry to coordinate appropriate assistance for the families of the victims.
In a June 9 Facebook post, Datuk Seri Anwar and his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail extended their condolences to the affected families.
“We pray that you will be given strength and perseverance in facing this immense hardship,” Mr Anwar said.
He stressed that the tragedy underscored the importance of road safety and urged everyone to remain vigilant on the road.
“Lives are precious and irreplaceable. Let this serve as a reminder to all of us to always be cautious and not rush to reach our destinations,” he said.
Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir also extended his condolences, saying that his ministry would provide all necessary assistance to those affected.
Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad said the state government would allocate RM1,000 (S$300) to each of the affected families, The Star reported.
“The financial aid is small, but we hope it helps cover basic needs, such as accommodation for the family, food or other expenses. We know not every family is financially well off and this is the least we can do to ease their burden,” he said.
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straits times