JOHOR BARU (BERNAMA) - A car driver who rammed into a group of teenage cyclists, killing eight of them and injuring another eight, was released on police bail on Sunday (Feb 19).

Johor Police chief Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said the 22-year-old woman was released after police recorded her statements on the accident.

He said the police were in the midst of completing the investigation paper on the accident before submitting it to the deputy public prosecutor for further action.

He said the police did not dismiss the possibility of taking action against parents who let their children roam on the streets unattended after midnight.

"Yes, drastic action must be taken. We (police) have taken diplomatic action on so many occasions, we sent their children home, we gave them advice, we did everything, but at the end of the day, they still blame the police," he said.

The police believed the mishap could have been prevented if the movement of the teenagers were closely monitored by their parents, the Johor police chief added.

The accident took place at 3am on Saturday when the cyclists were hit by a Nissan Almera car driven by the woman along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam.

Johor Bahru Selatan Police chief ACP Sulaiman Salleh said a group of 20 to 30 teenage cyclists were believed to be in the vicinity and had obstructed the road before the accident.