KUALA LUMPUR: An Immigration Department enforcement lorry involved in a fatal accident here early Wednesday (Aug 19) is believed to have been struck at the front by a car travelling from Chow Kit, causing the lorry to lose control and hit a family waiting to cross the road.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said the accident occurred at about 1am at the traffic light intersection of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman near Maju Junction.
He said the empty Immigration lorry was travelling towards Kampung Baru when it entered the intersection while its traffic light was red.
However, its beacon lights and siren were activated at the time, he said.
“At the same time, a car travelling from Chow Kit towards Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, after getting a green light, collided with the front section of the Immigration lorry.
“Following the collision, the lorry driver lost control of the vehicle before it crashed into a family waiting to cross the road from Medan Tuanku towards Chow Kit.
“The lorry also hit an MPV which was stopped at the traffic light while travelling from Kampung Baru towards Jalan Raja Laut,” he said in a statement.
Comm Muhammed Hasbullah said police were investigating both drivers – the 43-year-old Immigration lorry driver and the 50-year-old car driver – after they were remanded for one day.
“Investigators are still conducting their probe, including examining closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the scene and tracing independent witnesses to assist with the investigation.
“I urge all parties, especially members of the public, not to speculate about the incident until the investigation is completed,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
In the incident, three members of a family were killed after being struck by the lorry belonging to the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department.
The victims were a 53-year-old father and his two daughters, aged 25 and 12.
Their 55-year-old mother was critically injured and is receiving treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
All three drivers involved in the crash were reported to be uninjured.
Breathalyser tests for alcohol and preliminary urine screening conducted on the two drivers were negative.
Meanwhile, three vans believed to be carrying the bodies of the three family members killed in the crash left Kuala Lumpur Hospital at 5.45pm on Wednesday under police escort.
Family members were also seen leaving the hospital.
The bodies are expected to be buried at the Kampung Air Hitam Labu Muslim Cemetery in Kampar, Perak, after post-mortems are completed.