SPAD to begin in-depth probe into Tapah bus crash

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), with cooperation from other relevant agencies, will begin an in-depth investigation into the tour bus accident on the south-bound stretch of the North-South Expressway, which claimed eight lives, early today.

The agencies are the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), Royal Malaysian Police and the Road Transport Department (RTD).

In a statement issued here, SPAD said it would also study all documents related to the management of driver and maintenance of the tour bus.

"Besides, safety audit will also be carried out on the operation of the bus company involved in the accident," the statement said.

The tour bus, belonging to LBS Travel and Tours, was ferrying 30 passengers from Kuala Kurau to Genting Highlands when the accident occurred at 1.15 am.

It was reported to have caught fire after it skidded and crashed into a ditch near the Tapah toll plaza when trying to avoid hitting a tyre on the road.

Eight people were killed, seven of them burnt to death, while 22 others were injured.

SPAD also extended its condolences to all families of the victims killed and injured in the accident.

Meanwhile, a member of the National Road Safety Council, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye called on the Transport Ministry and other relevant authorities to relook at the council's recommendations in dealing with the various factors which contributed to road accidents such as human factors, road engineering and bus conditions.

He said the recommendations were stated in the report produced after the Genting Highlands' bus tragedy in August 2013 which killed 37 passengers.

"Our independent safety panel has made over 50 recommendations to the Ministry of Transport to address the causes of such traumatic accidents and make our roads safer," he said in a statement here today.

He said the recommendation stated in the report need to be studied and implemented in the interest of road safety involving all buses.

He said there would be no end to fatal accidents on roads and highways involving buses, as long as the lessons of the previous tragedies were not learnt and the recommendations were not implemented.

"It is so sad and tragic that just two weeks into the new year, another major fatal bus crash has occurred resulting in eight deaths and with 22 passengers seriously injured," he added.