7 Dead & 33 Injured In Major Accident Involving Bus, Lorries, And Cars On PLUS Expressway
Preliminary investigations indicate that the accident occurred due to a lorry's front-right tyre suddenly detaching.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 24 Dec 2024, 10:44 AM
Seven individuals died and 33 others were injured in a five-vehicle accident at KM204 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) last night, 23 December
The accident occurred at 8.40pm near the Ayer Keroh rest and service area (R&R), involving a tour bus, a Foton lorry, a trailer, a Toyota Estima, and a Perodua Bezza, reported Harian Metro.
According to Alor Gajah district police chief Supt Ashari Abu Samah, preliminary investigations revealed that the accident was caused by the lorry's front-right tyre suddenly detaching.
"The accident happened when the bus, upon arriving at the scene, hit the tyre and lost control, skidding into the opposite lane.
"While skidding, the bus collided with a Perodua Bezza, causing the car to skid into the left lane and hit a road barrier.
"The bus then collided with a trailer and a Toyota Estima with a family of eight on board," he said in a statement.
The tragic accident claimed the lives of three men, three women, and a two-year-old child
Five of the victims were Toyota Estima's driver and passengers, comprising two men, two women, and a baby girl, Bernama quoted Melaka fire and rescue department director Mohd Pisar Aziz as saying.
"Meanwhile, the other two victims were the tour bus driver and a female bus passenger," added Mohd Pisar.
Seventeen injured victims were rushed to Melaka Hospital, 10 to Alor Gajah Hospital, and six to Pantai Ayer Keroh Hospital.
The accident caused a 10km standstill on the northbound route and a 6km jam on the southbound route at 1am today, 24 December.
According to an update on PLUS Malaysia's Facebook page, all lanes were reopened at 7.28am.
