KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) experts agreed that the way the driver handled the vehicle during a curve partly caused the accident that claimed eight lives at KM4.8 of the Genting Highlands-Kuala Lumpur recently.
This was based on the preliminary investigation conducted by the Miros accident investigation and reconstruction team, a day after the crash last Wednesday.
Its Operation and Accident Data Management Unit (CRADOM) head Ahmad Noor Syukri Zainal Abidin said the way the driver handled the vehicle when going down the hilly and winding stretch was believed to be one of the causes of the crach.
He said, other factors that contributed to the crash were the road infrastructure and the vehicle used.
"Our findings showed that there are several factors which include the driver, especially when handling the vehicle going down the hilly and curvy road.
"In addition, road infrastructure mainly involves the characteristics of 'speed mitigation' (reducing speed to reduce the probability of an accident), as well as the vehicle itself, which includes aspects of the structure's crashworthiness," he told Berita Harian, here yesterday.
Commenting further, Noor Syukri said Miros was in the process of compiling information and carrying out preliminary analysis on all evidence invluding primary and secondary information obtained in relation to the accident.
Another senior expert, who is also the Security and Mobility Unit (VRUM) head, Zarir Hafiz Zulkipli, said the van driver was found to have lost control of the vehicle when the vehicle went down the hill at the bend which caused the vehicle to crash into the concrete centre divider.
"The impact of the collision resulted in the driver and front passenger of the vehicle being trapped due to significant crumpling of the vehicle's structure.
"The passenger in the back was thrown inside the vehicle," he said.
In the incident at 1.15pm last Wednesday, eight people died while six others were injured after the van they were travelling in skidded and hit a road divider while descending Genting Highlands.
The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) in a statement said initial checks found that the van had a licence under the excursion bus licence class.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, said APAD and the Road Transport Department (RTD) needed to conduct an investigation into the company operating the tour van.
He said, Miros will also be responsible for studying the safety of the road conditions in the area and they would report the results of the investigation to the ministry.
"In this case, the design of the road and the bend in the area involved needs to be identified as to whether it endangers users." he said.