Four die in tragic crash

Four die in tragic crash
By ROSHIDI ABU SAMAH
roshidi@thestar.com.my

BEHRANG: Four people will forever be remembered as good Samaritans who died trying to rescue their friends trapped in a bus that skidded and keeled over when a sand-laden trailer ploughed into it in a gruesome accident along the North-South Expressway.

The four are SMK Air Merah Form Three students Khairul Anwar Azhan and Maysarra Zaidi, both 15, their teacher Siti Hajar Mohamad, 33, and Kampung Alor Teja Wanita Umno branch chief Basarah Saad, 45.

The students and teacher were on their way from Kulim to Kuala Lumpur when their bus overturned. It was then rammed by the trailer at the 382nd kilometre of the North-South Expressway, 100m from the rest area here, at about 4.20am yesterday.

Khairul, Maysarra and Siti had crawled out and were doing their best to pull the others out.

Basarah, who was on another bus, had got off the vehicle to help the teachers and students in the overturned bus when the trailer rammed into it. The trailer which hit Khairul, Maysarra, Siti and Basarah also overturned.

Siti was decapitated and lost her leg while Maysarra was buried in the sand. Rescue personnel pulled out Maysarra's body out of the sand six hours later, but that, too, by accident they were looking for Siti's leg.

Tanjung Malim acting OCPD Supt Md Tahir Kasim said the bus involved in the accident was carrying 36 students and three teachers.

“There were two drivers on board. Initial investigations showed that the driver at the wheel lost control of the bus after one of the front tyres burst.

“The bus swung to the left and overturned. While attempts were being made to get the students and the teachers out, a trailer hit the stationary bus from behind,” he said.

Supt Md Tahir said the drivers of the bus and trailer escaped with slight injuries.

“A total of 22 victims received outpatient treatment at the Slim River Hospital.

“Seven other passengers suffered serious injuries,” he said. Of the seven, students Mohd Azim Dahlan, Mohd Faizal Anuar, Mohd Sariffuddin, all 15, and teacher Azriah Hani, 31, were warded at the Slim River Hospital.

Those warded at the Teluk Intan Hospital were Abdul Rahman Danial Abdul Ghani, 15, teacher Rosilawati Mat Rifim, 40, and her son Idzmi Haikal Khairul Shah, five.

Azriah Hani said the group had left Kulim at 11.30pm on Thursday on what was supposed to be a three-day trip to Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands.

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