Three burnt to death in Ipoh crash

IPOH: Three individuals were burnt to death when the car they were travelling in crashed into a garbage truck at the Bercham Industrial Area near here last night.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said the department received an emergency call at 8.05 pm before a team from the Ipoh Fire and Rescue Station (BBP), assisted by the Tambun BBP and volunteer firefighters in Bercham, were rushed to the scene.

"Upon arrival, the team found the Proton Perdana car had caught fire and was about 95 per cent destroyed.

"The accident is believed to have occurred when the car rammed into the front part of the garbage truck, which also caught fire and sustained about 50 per cent damaged," he said in a statement.

According to Sabarodzi, all of the victims were discovered inside the car when the garbage truck was moved using a crane.

He said the firefighting operation ended at 11.35 pm, adding that the identity of all the victims has yet to be ascertained.

Meanwhile, Ipoh district police chief ACP Yahaya Hassan said a preliminary investigation revealed that the car travelling from Tanjung Rambutan direction had lost cost control and collided with a garbage truck coming from the opposite direction while passing a bend.

"As a result of the collision, the car became stuck beneath the garbage truck and caught fire. The 20-year-old male driver, along with his brother and cousin, aged 16, died at the scene.

"The garbage truck driver and four assistants, on the other hand, escaped unhurt," he said in a statement.

He urged those who witnessed the incident to contact the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division chief DSP Koo Boon Kuat at 016-4173222 to assist in the investigation.

The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

-- BERNAMA