Investigation Continues into Fatal Five-Vehicle Accident on North-South Expressway
Search for Missing Tyre Intensifies
ALOR GAJAH: Police are actively searching for the tyre, believed to have caused a five-vehicle accident at KM 204 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) northbound, on December 23.
Police Measures
Alor Gajah police chief Supt Ashari Abu Samah revealed that one of the measures taken by the police included a visit by the Alor Gajah Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division to the Tangkak PLUS office, where they met with the Propel operations officer.
Tyre Not Found at Scene
"The officer confirmed that no trailer tyre was found at the scene. He also mentioned that the debris at the accident site had been collected by a roro (roll-on roll-off ) lorry," he explained.
Statements Obtained
Additionally, police have obtained statements from both the roro lorry driver, who transported garbage to a disposal site in Segamat, and the subcontractor (Propel) lorry driver responsible for cleaning the area.
Rescue Operation Prioritized
Ashari further clarified that on the night of the incident, both the police and PLUS authorities were focused primarily on the rescue operation and had no information regarding the cause of the accident at that time.
Dashcam Footage and Lorry Driver’s Statement
"However, it wasn’t until the dashcam footage and the lorry driver’s statement revealing that his lorry’s tyre had detached and was rolling in the middle lane, with the bus subsequently hitting the tyre, that the police began searching for the missing tyre.
"Once the cleanup of the accident site was completed, the tyre was not found, and it is possible that the driver may have retrieved it. This is currently part of our investigation," he said, adding that efforts to locate the tyre will continue today in Tangkak and Segamat.
Accident Details
On December 23, media reported that seven people lost their lives, and 33 others were injured in a tragic accident involving a tour bus carrying 27 passengers, two lorries, a car, and an MPV, at KM 204 of the North-South Expressway northbound.
Initial Investigations
Initial investigations revealed that the tour bus collided with a detached lorry tyre that was blocking the middle lane, causing the bus to lose control, veer into the opposite lane, and crash into three other vehicles. The collision resulted in the deaths of five passengers in the MPV, as well as the driver and a passenger of the bus.
Conclusion
The police investigation into the fatal accident continues, with authorities working to locate the missing tyre and determine the cause of the accident. The search efforts will continue today in Tangkak and Segamat, and the police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
FAQs
Q: What is the police looking for in relation to the accident?
A: The police are actively searching for the tyre that is believed to have caused the accident.
Q: Why did the police not find the tyre at the scene?
A: The officer confirmed that no trailer tyre was found at the scene, and it is possible that the driver may have retrieved it.
Q: What is the current status of the investigation?
A: The police investigation is ongoing, and efforts to locate the tyre will continue today in Tangkak and Segamat.