BENTONG: Three family members were killed and four others injured when a Proton Exora they were travelling in was involved in an accident with two other vehicles at Km18 of Jalan Bentong-Raub near Lurah Bilut, here, yesterday.
The deceased in the 8.25am crash were identified as Masitah Kassim @ Ismail, 54, who was seated in the front passenger seat along with Norasmah, 55, and Muslaini, 48, who were sitting at the back. The three housewives from Melaka died at the scene.
Those injured were the driver Muhammad Nurhuzaifah Abdul Rahmah, 21, Mariah Kassim @ Ismail, 46, Shamsiah Kassim @ Ismail, 43, and six-year-old Mohd Akil Zairi.
District police chief Superintendent Yusof Unis said the accident also involved a Proton Saga with four passengers and a Nissan lorry but all the victims escaped unhurt.
He said investigations revealed the Proton Saga driver who was travelling towards Raub had slammed on the brakes when he suddenly noticed a lorry carrying out maintenance works parked on the road shoulder.
"Nurhuzaifah who was driving behind the Saga could not apply the brakes on time and the Exora hit the Saga before it swerved into the opposite lane. It crashed head-on into an oncoming Nissan lorry.
"Three passengers travelling in the Exora were killed on the spot while Mariah and Shamsiah suffered serious injuries and were taken to the Bentong hospital. Nurhuzaifah is being treated at the Raub Hospital while Akil suffered light bruises," he said in a statement.
Yusof said investigations revealed Nurhuzaifah and the six passengers in the Exora were travelling from Shah Alam, Selangor to Kelantan while the lorry was heading from Raub to Bentong when the mishap occurred.
He said the accident is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
Meanwhile, a Fire and Rescue department spokesman said eight firemen from the Bentong fire station were deployed to the crash scene to extricate the victims from the mangled Exora.
"Firemen used rescue equipment to free the victims who were trapped in the vehicle. The four injured victims were sent to hospitals while the three bodies were handed to the police," he said.