Grandparents, two grandchildren among four killed after Ford hits stranded tow truck on PLUS near Yong Peng

BATU PAHAT, Oct 25 — Police have confirmed the identities of four people, including two children, who were killed in a three-vehicle accident at KM107 of the North-South Expressway (southbound), near Yong Peng, yesterday.

Batu Pahat police chief ACP Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said the 5.50pm incident involved a Ford Ranger, a Toyota Vios and a Scania tow truck.

He said the four victims were passengers in the four-wheel-drive vehicle. They were Ab Shukor Athan, 68, and his wife, Mariam Ibrahim, 65, of Taman Sri Lalang Baru, Kluang, and their two grandchildren, Nur Umie Zahiyah Jumie, 5, and her brother Muhammad Zaharil Hakimie, 1, of Taman Mutiara Rini, Skudai.

“Ab Shukor, Mariam and Nur Umie Zahiyah were pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel from the Yong Peng Health Clinic due to severe head injuries.

“Muhammad Zaharil Hakimie died while receiving treatment at the Parit Yaani Health Clinic,” he said in a statement today.

Shahrulanuar said the accident also left four other occupants of the Ford Ranger with severe head injuries, including its driver, Jumie Julong, 35; his wife, Nor Hakimah Zakiah Ab Shukor, 32; and their son, Muhammad Zafrul Hakimie, 3, who are currently receiving treatment in the Yellow Zone of Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital (HSNI) in Batu Pahat.

The couple’s other son, Muhammad Zariff Hakimie, 2, who sustained severe head injuries, is being treated in the Red Zone of HSNI.

He said the two occupants of the Toyota Vios – its driver, Chin Nyet Boon, 46, and Yong Ah Moi, 81, from Taman Meranti, Bahau, Negeri Sembilan – were also receiving treatment in the Yellow Zone of HSNI for head injuries, while the lorry driver, Mohd Nadzri Abd Wahab, 31, was uninjured.

Recounting the sequence of events, Shahrulanuar said preliminary investigations found that the driver of the southbound Ford Ranger was believed to have lost control of the vehicle while travelling in the left lane along a straight stretch of road before crashing into the rear right side of the lorry, which had stopped on the emergency lane due to engine trouble.

“The impact caused the Ford Ranger to spin before it was hit by the Toyota Vios travelling behind it.

“All the victims’ bodies were taken to the Forensic Medicine Unit of HSNI for post-mortem examinations, and the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said. — Bernama