GERIK, June 9 — Initial investigations by the police have revealed that the fatal bus accident, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, occurred when the bus hit the rear of the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), believed to be a Perodua Alza, before overturning.
Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said the bus was carrying 42 UPSI students, aged between 21 and 23, all from the east coast.
The bus, which was registered in Kedah, had been privately chartered by the students and the group departed from Jertih, Terengganu, at 9pm yesterday and was en route to their campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak when the crash occurred at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB) in Banun, Gerik, early this morning.
“This tragic accident has resulted in 15 fatalities. All the bodies are currently awaiting post-mortem. Thirteen of the deceased have been sent to the Raja Perempuan Bainun Hospital, while two others were taken to the Gerik Hospital.
“Twenty-seven others — 23 women and four men — suffered injuries. The bus driver, aged 40, and his 54-year-old co-driver were also hurt in the incident,” he said during a press conference at the Perak police contingent headquarters today.
Noor Hisam added that the driver and passengers of the MPV, namely a couple aged 37 and 36, as well as their six-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, were also injured and taken to the Baling Hospital in Kedah for treatment.
“Other than the Baling Hospital, other injured victims were also taken to the Gerik Hospital, the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, and the Taiping Hospital,” he said.
The police cannot yet release the official list of the victims as the post-mortem process is still ongoing.
Noor Hisam said that detailed investigations are also being conducted, including technical aspects, human negligence, and past criminal records, with cooperation from all relevant agencies, including the Road Transport Department (JPJ), the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom), and the Malaysian Road Safety Research Institute (Miros).
“The road where the accident occurred is winding and downhill (hilly)...It was dark, with no lights except for the area near Tasik Banding, but it is still too early to draw any conclusions.
“The bus driver was also injured and we have not yet been able to record his statement,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
— Bernama
