Hajj pilgrims die in East Coast Highway crash

Three hajj pilgrims died on the spot and three others were injured when the van they were traveling in crashed into the back of an iron ore laden lorry at KM210.2 of the East Coast Highway heading towards Kuantan here early Wednesday morning.

The fatalities were front passenger Kamarudin Ab Rahman, 43, from Permatang Badak and two back passengers Zainab Awang Hassan, 59, of Kampung Seri Teruntum and Fatimah Said, 63, from Kampung Rozali near Jalan Gambang here.

Pahang police head quarters acting Administrative/Traffic chief, ASP Zainalabidin Othman said two other passengers and the van driver were injured and have been warded at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Kuantan Hospital.

The 3.40am mishap occurred when the five hajj pilgrims were on their way home from KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) to Kuantan," he told reporters here Wednesday.

He added that initial investigations showed that both the lorry and van drivers had valid drivers licences.