BUKIT MERTAJAM - A woman driver was killed while another driver was seriously hurt when a container being transported on a trailer lorry toppled and crushed them in an accident involving five vehicles in Jalan Bukit Tengah here today.
Twenty-one-year-old Lee Zi Rou, who was driving a Perodua Bezza car, died on the spot while 25-year-old Tan Chou Theng, who was driving a Honda Jazz, suffered serious injuries.
The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) of Penang Operations Commander Nor Azamuddin Abdullah said they received an emergency call at 9.31 am before the first fire engine was dispatched from the Perda Fire and Rescue Station.
"The accident involved three cars, namely the Perodua Bezza and Honda Jazz and a Toyota Altis, as well as two lorries, including the trailer.
"Two victims were trapped after their vehicles were crushed by the fallen trailer. The male victim (Chou Theng) was rescued by members of the public before the fire brigade arrived and was taken to hospital by ambulance,” he said when contacted.
Nor Azamuddin said the fire brigade had to use special equipment and needed nearly half an hour to extricate the woman's body.
"Two cranes were used to remove the fallen container, causing massive traffic congestion at the crash site,” he said.
Earlier, a video clip of the accident went viral on social media showing the trailer, carrying the container, coming from Bukit Tengah heading towards Bukit Minyak making a left turn at a traffic light junction when the container fell and crushed several cars coming from the opposite direction. - BERNAMA