SUNGAI PETANI: A 21-year-old factory worker died, while another man was critically injured in an accident involving three vehicles at Km101.6 of the North-South Expressway (NSE) here yesterday.
In the 9.30pm incident, the factory worker sustained fatal injuries after his motorcycle collided with a Proton Waja and a fuel tanker.
The Proton Waja driver, a 39-year-old tow truck operator, suffered a broken left leg and serious head injuries.
Kuala Muda district police chief Assistant Commissioner Zaidy Che Hassan said the accident occurred when the motorcycle, traveling in the emergency lane, initially collided with the rear of the Proton Waja, which had stopped to assist a broken-down vehicle.
"Preliminary investigation indicated that all vehicles involved were northbound in the expressway."
Zaidy said the initial collision caused the motorcycle to hit the rear-end of the Proton Waja, which caused him to be flung to the left lane. The fuel tanker, which was traveling in the left lane was unable to avoid the motorcyclist.
"As a result of the accident, the motorcyclist died on the spot," he said in a statement today.
Zaidy said the body has been sent to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani for a post-mortem, while the Proton Waja driver is receiving treatment at the same hospital.
"Investigations into the incident are ongoing," he added.