Tragedy struck on the North South Expressway that runs the length of Peninsular Malaysia late last night after a tractor trailer carrying concrete pillars saw its cargo fall onto the road and passing vehicles traveling near Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
Two individuals were killed instantly, and two others suffered serious injuries when their vehicle was crushed by the industrial objects.
The deceased were identified as Leong Woei Ser, 34 years old and from Ipoh, and his passenger Cheah Kim Seng, 60, from Ulu Kinta, Perak. Two young females traveling in the vehicle were taken to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital for treatment, and are believed to be Kim Seng’s daughters.
Officers who arrived on the scene believe that the truck driver, a 41-year-old male from Kedah, lost control of the vehicle going downhill upon exiting the Menora Tunnel. Faulty brakes are suspected to have been the cause of the accident.
The runaway truck was carrying 18 concrete posts, with 14 of them falling from truck and onto the road.
Two rolled onto the other side of the road and into oncoming traffic. It was one of those posts that fell onto the victims’ vehicle, crushing it, before coming to a halt in the road where it was hit by two more cars. The other post that fell onto the opposite lane was also subsequently struck by another car.
Other posts broke apart on impact with the asphalt and were struck by two more cars. In total, six vehicles were affected by the pile-up.
Two drivers sustained light injuries, while four others, including the truck driver, escaped the incident unscathed.
Both lanes came to a standstill and were temporarily blocked as police and first responders headed to the scene.
While the driver has been placed under arrest, drug tests have come back negative.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing, and police have impounded the truck for further examination.
