PETALING JAYA: Police have recorded the statement of the lorry driver involved in a five-vehicle crash in Ayer Keroh, Melaka, that claimed seven lives earlier this week.
Alor Gajah police chief Ashari Abu Samah said the 31-year-old’s statement was taken to determine if negligence could have led to the dislodging of one of the lorry’s tyres and subsequently causing the crash.
“Tests conducted found that the man was not driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol,” Bernama quoted him as saying.
Ashari said the police were working to obtain the dashboard camera footage that shows the tyre on the highway, and which has gone viral on social media.
He urged the owner of the vehicle that recorded the incident to come forward and assist with the investigation, which is being conducted under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Yesterday, the father of Khairul Ikhwan Mazupi, 32, driver of the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) who died in the crash, said he believed the police were gathering evidence.
Mazupi Abdul Rahman, a retired senior police officer, also expressed confidence that the police would conduct a transparent and fair investigation into the incident.
The crash, which occurred at 8.45pm on Tuesday and involved a tour bus carrying 27 passengers, two lorries, a car, and the MPV, killed seven people and injured 33 others.
Bernama also reported that the two siblings who survived the horrific crash are still unaware that their parents are dead.
State health, human resources and unity committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem said the news was being kept from Uwais Al-Qarni Khairul Ikhwan, 7, and Nur Sofea Humaira, 4, as they were still recovering from their injuries.
“We haven’t told them yet because we are concerned about their emotional state,” he said adding that while the siblings were conscious, they were still in pain.
Ngwe said Uwais is scheduled for surgery on his broken right thigh and is still being monitored in the Intensive Care Unit while Sofea, has underwent surgery for a fracture in her left thigh.
Both are in stable condition, he said.
