IPOH: Brake failure might have been the cause of a massive accident when a south-bound tour bus rammed into 10 vehicles at 265.8km North South Highway (PLUS) after the Menora Tunnel here today.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (North Zone) highway commander ASP Hazil Reza Mohd Ghazali said the technical fault was likely to have caused the accident which occurred about 3pm.
He said this when contacted by Bernama here tonight.
Meanwhile, Perak Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief, Superintendent Wan Jamil Wan Chik said all 28 passengers onboard and the driver were safe.
He said the bus, whose destination had yet to be ascertained had suddenly gathered momentum and sped towards the middle of the highway before ramming against three cars.
“All vehicle owners lodged police reports at the Ipoh traffic police headquarters, while the bus driver will be detained to facilitate investigations,” he added.
According to Wan Jamil, traffic was reportedly slow moving at the location at the time of the incident.
“We are taking a serious view of the incident and will determine whether it involved technical issues, negligence, (whether the driver was under the influence of) drugs or alcohol, or other issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, a PLUS spokesman said the accident had reduced traffic to a crawl over a 11km stretch, adding that vehicles involved in the accident were removed about 4.30pm, from the site.