4 Indonesians die in lorry-bus collision

KLUANG: Four Indonesians were killed while another was seriously injured when the lorry they were in, collided with a commuter bus at Km70 Jalan Kluang-Kota Tinggi yesterday. The dead were identified as Nimah, 41, the driver, Alwi Bahri, 31, Suryo, 32, and Sahli, 33, while Ahmad Idris was seriously injured and is being treated at the Kluang Hospital.

The driver and passengers of the commuter bus, however, escaped with minor injuries and were given outpatient treatment at the hospital.

Kluang police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Fawzi Arshad said the lorry was heading towards Kota Tinggi when the accident occurred at about 8 am.

"We believe the lorry driver was trying to overtake a vehicle in front of it but failed to get back into his lane in time, and collided head-on with the bus.

"Three of the victims died at the scene while the other died in the ambulance," said Mohamed Fawzi.

There were about 10 passengers in the bus, which was heading towards Kluang from Taman Seri Lambak, at the time of the accident.

"We are investigating whether the victims are illegals.

"We also trying to identify the owner of the lorry," said Mohamed Fawzi.

Zurati Nordin, 23, who was a passenger in the bus, said she saw the lorry moving across the path of the bus.

"The bus driver tried to prevent a collision by steering the bus towards the road shoulder but could not," said Zurati, who was on her way to work.

She said all the passengers exited the bus through a side door and waited for the ambulance, which took them to the hospital. NST