Police have arrested a 19-year-old local man to assist in investigations into a devastating five-vehicle crash that left five people dead along Kilometre 27 of the Renggam–Simpang Renggam Road in Kluang.
Kluang District Police Chief Bahrin Mohd Noh said the teenager was believed to have been driving a Mercedes-Benz A250 at high speed and in a reckless manner alongside a BMW 530e driven by his 22-year-old brother.
The fatal accident occurred at about 1.15pm when the BMW reportedly lost control before veering into the opposite lane and crashing into a Perodua Alza, Toyota Vios, Proton Wira and another Mercedes-Benz.
The impact triggered a chain collision that claimed five lives. The BMW driver died while being rushed to hospital after his vehicle plunged into a ravine.
Four occupants of the Toyota Vios were also killed in the crash. The victims were the 36-year-old driver, his 33-year-old wife, a 73-year-old female relative and a 10-year-old girl.
Police said all four victims in the Toyota Vios suffered severe head and body injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Several others were injured in the tragedy. Two children travelling in the Perodua Alza, an 11-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl, sustained head injuries and are receiving treatment in the Red Zone of Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom (HEBHK), Kluang.
The Alza driver, a 43-year-old local man, suffered injuries to his leg, while the 22-year-old Proton Wira driver sustained injuries to his mouth.
Meanwhile, a 57-year-old woman driving the second Mercedes-Benz escaped with minor injuries, while her two passengers were unharmed.
Bahrin said all injured victims are currently receiving treatment at HEBHK. He also confirmed that a urine screening test conducted on the 19-year-old suspect returned negative for drugs.
Police have seized the Mercedes-Benz A250 involved in the incident, and investigations are ongoing under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving, as well as Section 42(1) of the same Act for reckless driving.
