Tanjung Malim tragedy: Hopes of paying homage to ancestors shattered

The hopes of six family members who wished to visit their ancestors' graves in Bidor, Perak were shattered when the multi-purpose vehicle they were in was crushed by a trailer that skidded at Km403.3 of the North South Highway near the Tanjung Malim exit this morning.

In the 7.40am incident, the north-bound trailer laden with earth was believed to have gone out of control before it skidded and landed on the Ssangyong MPV which was heading in the same direction.

The deceased are the MPV driver Lam Wai Loon, 46, and wife Wong Check Lee, 53; and their two children Lam Jie Yang, 19, and Lam Jie Hong, 13.

Others are Wai Loon's father Lam Leong Choy, 76; and brother Lam Wai Keat, 38.

According to a close family member of the victims who wanted to remain anonymous, the six were believed to be on their way to Perak to pay homage to their ancestors with other relatives in the wake of the Cheng Beng Festival.

One of their family members, who could not get in touch with the victims, was already waiting in Bidor for over four hours before the relative eventually found out about the news, said the man when met at the Kuala Kubu Bharu Hospital's Forensic Unit here.

Meanwhile, Hulu Selangor district police chief Supt R. Supramaniam said the 27-year-old trailer driver escaped injury and was tested negative for drugs.

The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless driving. - BERNAMA