27 killed as tour bus overturns in Cameron Highlands (Update 4)
IPOH: Twenty-seven passengers of a tour bus were killed after the vehicle hit a divider and overturned on its way down from Cameron Highlands Monday.
Twenty-two died at the scene of the accident and five at the Raja Permaisuri hospital here. Another 10 injured were being treated at the hospital.
According to Perak state deputy CPO SAC Datuk Zakaria Yusof, the fatalies ias at 5.50pm included two Malaysians and 25 Thai nationals (11 male and 15 female).
He said the bus had 37 passengers onboard, 34 of them Thai.
The deceased identified so far are Omar Shahidan, 48; Charcart Knagsuwan, 48; Thanvarat Poolsang, 36; Nutthiya Inyyim, 50; Poonporn Poolsaene, 41; Sum Ruay Swatphet, 48; Darunee Songserm; Putharee Akkrarachaw Wanont, 42; Ponethanest Akkrarachaw Wanont, 45; Rung Da; Suchanchida Chaiaueai, 40; Sriwai Swatphet, 22; Prinya Prassakulchai, 48; Chutina Throukool, 25; Thitisak Pongtanarat, 51; and Junpen Pongtanarat, 50; Phayong Kruajinli, 49; Ekachai Na Bangxang, 64; Montona Phromduang, 51; Ampaiwan Thiangtham, 50; Maliwan Mek Mahaprom, 53; Achara Wiwat, 36; Isariya Thiangtham, 25; and Soontorn Kian, 38.
The accident occured at KM15 of the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai at 11.40am. The bus was heading to Kuala Lumpur from cameron Highlands.
It is learn that the excursion bus company is registered in Jitra.
SAC Datuk Zakaria said the cause of the accident could have been speeding or brake failure.
Major bus accidents in Malaysia in recent years:
Dec 17: Four prison officers killed after a Prisons Department bus plunged into a ravine along the hilly and winding Tambunan-Kota Kinabalu trunk road.
Oct 29: Seven passengers, aged between 13 and 28, killed after their bus skidded and overtured at KM38 Genting Sempah, while enroute to Kuala Lumpur. It was later revealed the driver of the bus had no valid driving licence.
Oct 10: Thirteen killed in bus crash along KM223 of the North-South Expressway (NSE), near the Simpang Ampat toll plaza.
Dec 25, 2009: Ten killed after a double-decker express bus skidded and hit a road divider at KM272.8 of the NSE, after the Ipoh Selatan toll plaza (northbound).
Dec 7, 2008: Ten dead after an express bus skided and overturned at KM146.5 of the NSE, near Pagoh, Johor.
Aug 13, 2007: One of the worst road crashes in Malaysian history claims 22 lives. The bus they victims were in crashed at KM229 of the NSE, near the Bukit Gantang rest area.
March 9, 2007: Six killed after an express bus plunged into a ravine at KM254, NSE, near the Sg Perak rest and recreation area.
July 30, 2006: Eleven pilgrims to the annual St Anne's Feast in Penang were killed when their chartered bus overturned at KM160.8 of the NSE, near the Jawi interchange at Nibong Tebal.
Nov 23, 2003: Fourteen killed when an express bus collides with another bus at KM63, Jalan Lipis-Merapoh near the Pahang-Kelantan border.
read TheStar here.
I guess there will be another round of investigation and the standard statements of blame and washing of hands from the Ministry of Transport, JKRJ, JPJ and what have you.
I think these Bus accidents must be subject to at least an inquest to determine what went wrong, the inquest could probably be a subject for A Royal Commission of Inquiry to find a holistic solution to these mass killings on our highways. Please, please also read:
The October 10th Bus tragedy near the Simpang Ampat Toll; a call for an Inquest
and
A bus if not driven or maintained properly can be a potential weapon of mass destruction!
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