Two die, three injured in bus crash

The Star Online - 26 January 2008

IPOH: Two people died and three were seriously injured after the double-decker express bus they were travelling in lost control before crashing into a divider at southbound of Km382 of the North-South Expressway between Slim River and Behrang.

The two dead were identified as Mohd Zailini Mustafa, 23, and Lee Nian Ning, 21. Both are from Sg Nibong and Taman Bukit Gelugor, Penang, respectively.

The unidentified bus driver in the 5.55pm incident was also seriously injured.

There were 39 people on board including the driver and co-driver. The injured had been sent to the Slim River Hospital for treatment.

Slim River deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Adzhar Othman said initial reports found that the bus, which was travelling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, had lost control and was lying sideways blocking both sides of the expressway.

“A multi-purpose vehicle, which was travelling behind the bus, could not brake on time causing it to crash onto the bus.

“The driver was however unhurt,” he said when contacted.

DSP Adzhar said the victims were pulled out from the bus by passing motorists.

The incident caused massive traffic jams on both sides of the expressway.

A Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan spokesman said southbound of the expressway had to be closed to traffic.

“We had to open a contra flow on the north-bound to allow traffic flow,” he said.