Soldier killed, 29 injured in bus plunge

By C.S. NATHAN
Pictures by LOW BOON TAT

SEREMBAN: A soldier was killed and 29 other passengers were injured when an express bus plunged into a ravine along the North-South Expressway near here early yesterday.

The deceased has been identified as Mohd Arshad Razali from Johor. Five of the injured are reported to be in serious condition and have been admitted to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital here for treatment.

State traffic chief ASP Abd Halil Hamzah said the incident occurred at 3.45am after the driver of the Kuala Lumpur-bound express bus apparently lost control of the vehicle. The bus hit the guardrail before plunging into a ravine next to the expressway.


A pregnant woman, a Singaporean and three Indonesians were among those injured.

The bus driver Mohd Shahrini Mohamad, 23, is said to have just obtained his commercial driving licence several months ago. The bus has 52 outstanding traffic summonses.

Eighteen Fire and Rescue department personnel from the Seremban and Seremban 2 stations freed the passengers from the mangled wreck, said its Rescue Assistant Operations Director, Superintendent Khairul Azuwan Ibrahim.

The bus left the Larkin Bus Station in Johor Baru at 1am and was scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 5.30am.

The Singaporean, who declined to be named, said the bus flipped several times before landing on its side.

“The bus was going very fast before it crashed,” he said, adding that he sustained minor injuries on his hands and legs.

Fauzi Astamam, 44, who was travelling with his 18-year-old son Mohd Faizudin Fauzi from Johor Baru, said the bus, which was going fast, started to sway suddenly seconds before the accident.

“When the bus plunged into the ravine, I managed to hold on to the seat in front of me. Those who were asleep were flung from their seats,” he said.