Two bikers heading to Singapore killed in five-vehicle pile-up at toll plaza near Johor CIQ

Initial investigations indicate that the lorry suffered brake failure before hitting the trailer and bus and crashing into two motorcycles. PHOTO: FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT OF MALAYSIA/FACEBOOK
The rescue team sought the help of a crane driving by to lift the lorry. PHOTO: FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT OF MALAYSIA/FACEBOOK

ISKANDAR PUTERI - Two motorcyclists died in an accident involving five vehicles at the Tanjung Kupang toll plaza near the Sultan Abu Bakar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Johor Bahru (JB).

Iskandar Puteri Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Hairulnizam Mohd Noh said they received a distress call about the incident at 6.04am on Dec 22.

He said that one fire engine and one rapid response vehicle with 10 firemen were deployed to the scene.

“When we arrived, there was an accident involving a lorry, a trailer, a bus and two motorcycles. One of the motorcyclists was pinned beneath the lorry,” he added.

“We tried to lift the lorry (by) using an inflatable device but were unsuccessful. We saw a crane driving by, and we requested the driver’s assistance to lift the lorry.”

Iskandar Puteri district police chief Rahmat Ariffin said all those involved in the incident were heading to Singapore.

He said initial investigations indicated that the lorry suffered brake failure and went out of control before hitting the trailer and bus before crashing into two motorcycles.

The two motorcyclists, aged 49 and 54, died on the spot.

“The trailer driver, bus driver and 29 bus passengers did not suffer any injuries,” he said, adding that all the victims were taken to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in JB.

Assistant Commissioner Rahmat said investigation is going on. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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