KUALA KRAI: The driver of a Perodua Myvi involved in an accident that killed his wife and two children on the Gua Musang-Kuala Krai route at Kampung Pahi here, yesterday was assisted in reciting the syahadah by a mosque caretaker before taking his final breath.
Ismail Mat Yaacob, 65, the caretaker of Pahi Mosque, said he had just concluded the zuhur azan (call to prayers) and performed the sunnah (supplementary) prayers when he heard a loud bang outside the mosque compound.
"I rushed out to see what was going on and was astounded to discover a collision had severely damaged two vehicles.
"When I approached the Perodua Myvi, my heart sank when I saw a woman cradling her child, no longer moving and possibly dead.
"However, the car driver was still alive, and I managed to whisper the 'syahadah' into his ear. He then slowly exhaled and looked at me before passing away at the scene," he said.
Meanwhile, village resident, Mustaza Che Amat, 56, said the incident occurred not far from his home after he had performed the zuhur prayer.
"Suddenly, I heard a very loud bang like the sound of vehicles crashing. I immediately ran out of the house and saw two vehicles involved in the accident, with victims still trapped.
"I immediately made an emergency call. Luckily, I am also an ambulance driver at the Pahi Health Clinic, so I was directed to assist as the ambulance driver on duty at that time was not available.
"I then went to the clinic to get the ambulance and transported the victims to the hospital," he said.
The accident, which occurred around 1.40pm yesterday, and involved a Perodua Myvi and a Nissan March, claimed the lives of a family of four, including two infants.
The married couple and their one-year-old baby daughter were confirmed dead at the scene, while their six-year-old son died at the hospital while receiving treatment.
Another son of the couple, aged nine, was reported injured and receiving further treatment in the hospital.
Two other victims, a man, who was the driver of the Nissan March, suffered serious injuries, while his female passenger escaped with light injuries.