BINTULU: Four friends were killed when the car they were in collided into a lorry parked by the roadside at Jalan Pesisir Pantai Bintulu-Miri here this morning.
Sarawak Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Superintendent Alexson Naga Chabu said the incident, which involves a Proton Persona, had occurred around 5.30am.
The four victims were identified as Nelson Harry Kap, 28, who was the driver; Mapura Anthony Jawi, 28; Langgong Gurang, 30, and Adrian George, 21.
He said a fifth passenger, Brandon Libat, 28, suffered serious injuries and was currently receiving treatment in Bintulu Hospital.
Alexson said initial investigations found the victims were driving from Bintulu towards Miri.
The driver may have likely lost control of his vehicle upon approaching the location before the collision with the lorry.
"The impact caused the car to be lodged under the lorry. The car's front portion was badly wrecked," he said in a statement today.
Alexson said the police requested for the Fire and Rescue Department's help to extricate the victims, and this took almost three hours.
"Paramedics at the scene confirmed the death of all four victims, who sustained severe head and body injuries," he said.
The bodies were sent to the Bintulu Hospital Forensic Unit for post-mortem.
"Another victim who suffered serious injuries was also treated at Bintulu Hospital," he said, adding the case was being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.