ALOR STAR: The three soldiers who were killed in a crash at Km77.5 of the Plus Expressway near Gurun this morning were inspecting a broken-down truck when they were rammed by a courier lorry.
Kuala Muda police chief Assistant Commissioner Zaidy Che Hassan said initial investigation showed that the army trucks were travelling from the Pengkalan Hulu Border Regiment towards the 30 Brigade Camp in Perlis while the courier lorry was travelling from Kulim to Alor Star when the 10.30am incident occurred.
It is learnt that the victims have been identified as sergeant Rozali Abdull Rani, 39; corporal Mohd Asri Idris, 40, and lance corporal Mohd Hafiz Haris, 30.
ALSO READ: Three soldiers killed in four-vehicle crash on Plus Expressway
"During the incident, the victims had pulled over on the emergency lane as one of the trucks broke down.
"Suddenly the courier lorry lost control of his vehicle and crashed into one of the army trucks killing the victims on the spot.
"The lorry driver who suffered serious injuries was rushed to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB)," he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the family members of the perished army men began arriving at HSB to claim their bodies.
As of 4pm, the bodies are still undergoing post-mortem examination at the HSB forensic unit.