TAIPING: Three people were killed and one was injured when the car they were traveling in crashed into the rear of a one-tonne lorry at Km225.2 of the North-South Expressway (NSE), here, at 8.50am this morning.
Lobpithai Lee Sern Koung, 25, the driver of the Perodua MyVi car and the front seat passenger, Tan Hock Lai, 24, were killed on the spot.
Another passenger, Ong Cheng Lian, 23, was pronounced dead while undergoing treatment at the Taiping Hospital.
Another backseat passenger, aged 23, only sustained minor injuries.
The 27-year-old lorry driver escaped unhurt.
They were believed to be heading for Penang from Ipoh.
Taiping district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Taib said the car had rammed into the back of the lorry, which had stopped in the left lane of the expressway.
“Due to the impact, two victims were killed on the spot. Their bodies were pinned to their seats. Another victim was pronounced dead at the Taiping Hospital. The injured victim is receiving treatment at the hospital.
“When police arrived at the scene, the bodies of the two pinned victims had been taken out by the Taiping Fire and Rescue Department."
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by dangerous driving.
Taiping Fire and Rescue Department operation chief Izuwan Che Ibrahim said the department received a distress call at 8.52am.
“The driver and front passenger were pinned to their seats, while two other victims were taken out by members of the public,” he said.
“We received assistance from the Kuala Kangsar Fire and Rescue Department and the operation ended at 10.30am.”