A family selfie taken during a lunch outing in Kuala Lumpur has become the final cherished memory of four family members who were killed when their car was crushed by an overturned trailer on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway (KLK) on Sunday.
The heartbreaking tragedy claimed the lives of A Halim Hasoon, 55, his wife Rozita Buang, 58, their daughter Norbahyah A Halim, 26, and their one-year-old granddaughter, Nayla Afya Aizat.
A Halim’s sister-in-law, Mazura Bakar, 50, said the photograph was personally sent to her by the late A Halim after the family enjoyed an Arabic rice meal together in Kuala Lumpur at around 2.15pm.
“My brother-in-law took a family photo while they were having lunch and sent it to me.
“I never imagined it would become the last memory of them,” she said when met at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital (HoSHAS) on Monday.
Mazura said the family had travelled from their home in Mempaga, Bera, to Kuala Lumpur earlier that morning without informing relatives about the purpose of their trip.
Upon arriving in the capital, Norbahyah reportedly contacted her younger brother, who had just finished work around noon, and invited him to join them for lunch.
After the meal, the family is believed to have met Norbahyah’s husband before heading home separately.
“Norbahyah’s younger brother left on his motorcycle, while A Halim, his wife, daughter and granddaughter travelled back in the car. It was during that journey that the accident happened,” Mazura said.
The family only learned of the tragedy after one of Mazura’s nephews came across news of the accident circulating on TikTok.
“At the time, I was reciting the Quran when my nephew called and asked if I had heard about the accident.
“I immediately contacted Bentong Hospital before being informed that all the victims had been taken to the forensic unit at HoSHAS,” she said.
Mazura described her relationship with A Halim as extremely close, saying he often shared stories and personal experiences with her throughout his life, from his bachelor days until he became a husband and father.
Their last meeting was during the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
She also revealed that Rozita had recently shared several social media posts touching on themes of life and separation, though no one in the family expected such a tragedy to occur.
“There were several posts that seemed to reflect on life and parting ways.
“But we never imagined something like this would happen,” she said.
The four victims are expected to be laid to rest at the Mempaga 1 Islamic Cemetery in Bera after post-mortem examinations are completed.
Meanwhile, police confirmed that the 40-year-old trailer driver involved in the fatal crash tested positive for methamphetamine following a urine screening conducted after he received treatment at hospital.
Bentong District Police Chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar said the driver was subsequently taken to the Bentong District Police Headquarters for further investigation.
