TANAH MERAH: A 16-year-old believed to be a ketum leaves peddler was killed while the driver suffered injuries when the car they were travelling in crashed into a lorry at Simpang 4 Yap Boon Yam, here, early today.
Police identified the victim as Muhamad Laamrullah Mohd Sapura, from Jeli.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Suzaimi Mohamad said the lorry was travelling from Jalan Padang Siam to Jalan Wan Ahmad when the incident occurred about 5.50am.
"Initial investigations revealed that the car, filled with ketum leaves, failed to avoid the lorry after exiting a junction and crashed into it.
"The impact caused the lorry to tip over. The victim died on the spot, while the 37-year-old lorry driver and 21-year-old attendant escaped unhurt," he said.
Suzaimi said the 33-year-old car driver, from Pasir Mas suffered a broken leg and taken to the Tanah Merah Hospital.
He said police are still investigating if the ketum leaves were for local distribution or outside Kelantan.
He said the incident was not the first in the district involving ketum leaves peddlers.
"Police have recorded more than four ketum leaves-related cases so far this year and investigations revealed these peddlers are mostly members of smuggling syndicates plying between Kelantan and other states." he said.