TANGKAK: A total of 16 people were hurt in a five-vehicle road accident at KM 162.2 of the North-South Expressway (southbound) today.
Tangkak Fire and Rescue Department station chief Bakariya Mohd Salleh said seven-man team was deployed to the scene after receiving a call at 3.50pm.
He said according to the information gathered by the rescue team, the accident involved a bus, three lorries and a four-wheel drive vehicle.
“According to the report, a person who was on board the trailer was severely injured, while the other 15 victims sustained minor injuries.
“Of the total, 12 of them were bus passengers while the other victims were on board the lorries and four-wheel drive vehicle,” he said, adding that the operation ended at 4.55pm.
Meanwhile, Tangkak district police chief Superintendent Mohad Idris Samsuri said the accident was triggered by the trailer that rear-ended one of the lorries that was put to a stop due to the road congestion.
This, he said, caused the lorry to skid and as a result, rammed three other vehicles including a bus that was moving in front of it.
“The accident was believed to be caused by the trailer driver who had failed to control his vehicle,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Rule 10 of the Road Transport Rules 1959 for failing to control vehicle which led to an accident.