PITAS: Four girls died while five boys were injured when their car met with an accident on their way to school this morning.
Three of the deceased are in Form Six while the other is in Form 4.
It is understood that nine students had packed themselves into the vehicle to make their way to their school, SMK Pitas 2.
One of the students was driving.
As the car was travelling along Jalan Kanibongan-Pitas, it hit a pothole, sending it careering to the side.
Police were alerted to the incident at 6.30am.
Kota Marudu police chief Superintendent Mohd Izaan Abdullah said one of the victims who is severely injured was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
Another injured student was admitted to the Pitas Hospital, one is still receiving treatment while two more have been discharged.
The driver, who has a licence, was among those who escaped with light injuries.