Five people were killed in two separate road accidents occurring within about an hour along Jalan Felda Hutan Percha and Jalan Lendu here on Monday.
In the first incident at about 3.40pm, three lives were lost, including a college student, after a car collided with a lorry on Jalan Felda Hutan Percha. The crash involved a Honda City and a rigid lorry, believed to have occurred when the car lost control before veering into the opposite lane.
Alor Gajah District Police Chief Superintendent Ahmad Abu Bakar said the vehicle, which was carrying four occupants and travelling from Melaka towards Segamat, is believed to have skidded before entering the oncoming lane and crashing into the lorry travelling from Tebong to Cheng.
“One rear passenger, a 24-year-old man, was confirmed dead at the scene by medical officers,” he said in a statement.
He added that two other male passengers, both aged 24 and 23 respectively, later died while receiving treatment at Melaka Hospital at 12.45am and 10.20am the following day. A 23-year-old female passenger, believed to be a public university student, is still receiving treatment at the same hospital.
The lorry driver, aged 59, and his 28-year-old assistant sustained injuries and are being treated at Tampin Hospital in Negeri Sembilan.
In a second fatal crash at about 4.40pm along Jalan Lendu, two men were killed after a Yamaha YZF motorcycle collided with a Perodua Viva that made a sudden turn.
Preliminary investigations found that both vehicles were travelling in the same direction from Alor Gajah towards Masjid Tanah.
“The accident is believed to have happened when the car turned right abruptly without ensuring it was safe to do so,” said Ahmad.
As a result, the motorcycle approaching from behind was unable to avoid the car and slammed into its right side, causing both riders to be thrown into the opposite lane. They were pronounced dead at the scene due to severe head and body injuries.
The victims, a 23-year-old soldier and his 28-year-old pillion rider, were sent to the Forensic Unit at Alor Gajah Hospital for post-mortem examinations, with blood samples taken for toxicology tests.
The Perodua Viva driver and passenger, a married couple aged 64 and 62, were also injured and are being treated at the same hospital.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. All involved vehicles have been detained for technical inspection at Puspakom.
Police have urged witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the incidents to assist investigations by contacting the investigating officer or visiting the nearest police station.
