ONE KILLED, SEVEN INJURED IN THREE-VEHICLE CRASH

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- A man was killed and seven others, including a young girl, were injured in an accident involving an express bus and two lorries at KM433 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) southbound near Rawang early this morning.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said the deceased was the driver of a bonded lorry who was trapped inside the vehicle.

“The man was pronounced dead by a Ministry of Health medical officer at the scene before being handed over to the police for further action,” he said in a statement.

He said the injured comprised five bus passengers -- four men, one of them seriously hurt, and a young girl -- a 39-year-old attendant of the bonded lorry and the trailer driver.

All the injured were sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital.

Ahmad Mukhlis said 31 individuals were involved in the incident: 16 men, five women and seven children from the express bus, two men from the bonded lorry, and one man from the trailer lorry.

The Scania express bus is owned by Inter Top while the 10-tonne bonded lorry belongs to Securiforce.

Ahmad Mukhlis said his department received an emergency call at 5.12 am, and fire engines from the Bukit Sentosa and Rawang fire and rescue stations arrived at the scene at 5.21 am.

The rescue operation involved 16 firefighters, assisted by a Light Fire Rescue Tender and an Emergency Response Motorcycle from the Bukit Sentosa station, as well as a Fire Rescue Tender from the Rawang station.

-- BERNAMA