A lorry driver and a Welfare Department officer were killed in a four-vehicle pile up near Kampung Lingai

Two killed, one seriously injured in 4-car pile up

KUALA TERENGGANU: A lorry driver and a Welfare Department officer were killed in a four-vehicle pile up near Kampung Lingai here today.

Firemen tries to retrieve the body of the victim, a lorry driver. Pix by Aswadi Alias

District police chief Assistant Commissioner  Zamri Samsuddin said the Kuala Terengganu police station received a call at 10.55am about the road accident at KM29 of the Kuala Terengganu-Kota Baru road.

He said the dead were identified as lorry driver Mohd Ghani Embong, 44, from Kampung Tok Ba, Wakaf Mesira here, and Selangor Welfare Department officer Rohaiza Yusof, 35, of Kampung Baru Rhu Muda in Marang.

He said the incident was believed to be occurred after the lorry driven by Mohd Ghani which was heading towards Kuala Terengganu lost control after overtaking a car before hitting a purple Perodua MyVi coming from the opposite direction.

The female driver of the Proton Myvi was seriously injured and was brought to Sultanah Nur Zahirah hospital (HSNZ) for treatment. Pix by Aswadi Alias

It is learnt that the purple MyVi driver suffered serious injuries and was sent to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah hospital (HSNZ) for treatment.

Zamri said the lorry then hit Rohaiza's grey Perodua Myvi which was travelling behind the purple one.

"The impact of the collision threw Rohaiza's car into a 3-metre deep ravine.

"The lorry then hit a van behind Rohaiza's vehicle before plunging into the ravine," he said, adding that the two men and two women in the van escaped unhurt.

Pix by Aswadi Alias

It is learnt that the Kuala Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department took about 20 minutes to free both Rohaiza and Mohd Ghani from the wreckage.

Zamri said Rohaiza was an Information Technology officer of the Selangor Welfare Department.

"She was travelling to Kota Baru to attend a three-day course organised by her department,' he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road and Transport Act  1987 for reckless driving and causing deaths," he said adding that both bodies were sent to HSNZ for a post-mortem.

Meanwhile, Rohaiza's mother Zaimah Ismail, 65, when met at the hospital said Rohaniza, the eight from 10 siblings, returned home from Kuala Lumpur on Sunday and was traveling alone to attend a course in Kota Baru.

"She told me that the course would end on Thursday but now I lost her forever," she said in tears.

Officers from the Fire and Rescue department carries the body of a victim. Pix by Aswadi Alias