Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Bus plunges into deep ravine

For the first time ever, I personally witnessed the rescue team lifting up the victims from the ravine. I happened to be traveling from Penang to Kuala Lumpur in my personal vehicle when this accident happened on the opposite side of the road. Inter-city bus accidents are a norm in Malaysia. How many more lives must be lost before the authorities take interest in improving the safety of these buses.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/18/Bus-plunges-into-deep-ravine-Driver-killed-and-two-passengers-seriously-injured/

IPOH: An express bus fell into a 30-metre-deep ravine after veering off the North-South Expressway near Gua Tempurung in Gopeng.

Kampar OCPD Supt Ng Kong Soon said the Expres Konsortium bus driver Hasmir Arsat, 42, was killed instantly while two passengers were left seriously injured after the incident at KM301.5 of the expressway, at about 4.25pm yesterday.

Supt Ng said the injured victims, identified as Mong Ming Chai, 48, from Kuala Kangsar and Farahzela Zainal Abidin, 27, from Sungai Siput, were rushed to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital here for treatment.

The bus, he added, was heading north at the time of the incident.

“Initial investigation showed that the bus driver could have lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid a vehicle, which had skidded in front of it.

“As far as we know, there were only three people on board the bus.

“However, the police and the Fire and Rescue Department are still checking to ensure there are no other victims,” Supt Ng said.