A serious accident occurred in northern Malaysia when a car carrying a college student collided with a small truck, killing at least 15 people, according to police and rescue forces. This is the most serious road accident in the country in more than a decade.
The incident occurred near Gerik town, on the East-West expressway, which is considered dangerous and where accidents often occur. The accident occurred at around 1:00 a.m. on June 9 when the car was on its way from the town of Jerteh in northeastern Malaysia, returning students to school.
Among the dead were 14 students of Sultan Idris University of Education and 1 bus attendant. Perak state police chief Hisam Nordin said: "It appears the car lost control and crashed into the rear of the small truck."
Images from the scene provided by firefighters and rescuers show the blue car overturned on the right side, with a severely deformed rear. The small red truck slid down the ditch along the road, the glass doors were completely broken.
The Perak State Disaster Management Agency said some victims could escape on their own, while others were thrown off the vehicles, while the rest were trapped inside. Rescue forces had to use hydraulic equipment to cut and remove the trapped people.
In addition to the 15 dead, 33 others were injured, including 7 people in critical condition who were taken to the hospital for emergency care. Most of the victims were between the ages of 21 and 23.
One witness described the scene as a chaotic scene, with screams and cries for help echoing everywhere. This person added: "They are stuck in the middle of the rubble".
The police are investigating the cause of the accident, considering the possibility of an operational error or technical problem.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his deep sadness and directed the Ministry of Higher Education to support the victims' families. He wrote on Facebook: "Hurt tragedies like this should be a warning lesson. Human life is priceless".
According to government data, Malaysia recorded an average of 18 deaths from traffic accidents per day. The East-West Expressway where the accident occurred is famous for collisions, including between vehicles and wild animals. The worst car accident ever in Malaysia was in 2013 when a passenger bus crashed into a ravine, killing 37 people.
