27 die in bus crash horror: Bodies strewn on road

IPOH, MALAYSIA: Three Malaysians and 24 Thais were killed in the country's worst road accident when an express bus they were travelling in overturned and crashed into a rocky slope along the Simpang Pulai-Kampung Raja road, about 15km from here yesterday.

The double-decker bus had 37 people on board when it was heading down from Cameron Highlands.

At 11.40am, it breached a concrete divider, rolled over a few times and crashed roofside into a rocky slope before coming to a halt on its side in a monsoon drain at the foot of the slope.

The bodies of some of the dead victims were strewn on the road, with some of their body parts mutilated due to the impact.

The roof of the double-decker bus was partially torn from its body with the upper deck's floor pressing down on passengers seated on in the lower deck.

A rescue team comprising about 100 personnel from various agencies took about three hours to retrieve the deceased dead and the those seriously injured.

Acting Perak police chief Datuk Zakaria Yusuf said 22 out of the 27 victims died on the spot while the rest succumbed to their injuries either on the way to or after being admitted to Ipoh Hospital.

The condition of the remaining 10 victims was being monitored closely due to the seriousness of their injuries they had sustained during the impact.

"At this point in time, we cannot ascertain the cause of the accident but police suspect that it could have been caused by a technical problem or speeding,".

"However, what can be said for certain is that the impact was great to have caused so many fatalities," he said at the site of the accident.

Zakaria said the first team of firemen and policemen reached the scene around noon, about 20 minutes after the accident.

He said police were still trying to ascertain the identities of the victims deceased and the injured.

"The three Malaysians who died on the spot were the bus driver of the bus, the assistant bus driver and a tour guide

"All of them are employees of San Express Holiday Sdn Bhd based in Jitra, Kedah. Which is the owner of the double-decker express bus based in Jitra, Kedah."

The road was closed to traffic on both sides until 4pm, after which vehicles coming down from Cameron Highlands were allowed to pass.

At press time, the road leading up to Cameron Highlands was still closed to traffic to facilitate forensic investigation into the accident and to allow ow the bus to be towed hereback to Ipoh.

The site of yesterday's accident is about 500m from the spot where an Kurnia Bestari express bus had plunged into a ravine on Dec 23, 2004 while proceeding downhill on the same road, killing five passengers and seriously injuring 17 others.

MEN

1. Omar Shahidan, 48 (Malaysian driver)
2. Charcart Knagsuwan, 48
3. Pooporn Poolsaeng, 41
4. Sumruay Swatphet, 48
5. Pongtiawest Akararachewwanont, 45
6. Thitisak Pongtanarat, 51
7. Ekachai Na Banexane, 64
8. Phayone Kruajinli , 49
9. Weera Chuntranwaggn (no age)
10. Soontorn Kian a/l Kian, 38 (Thai Malaysian, tourist guide)

WOMEN

11. Thanyarat Poolsang, 36
12. Nutthiya Inyim, 50
13, Puthinaree Akkrarachewannot, 42
14. Suchanchira Chaigueai, 40
15. Sriwai Swatphet, 42
16. Priya Prassakul Chai, 48
17. Chutima Throukool, 25
18. Junpen Pongthanarat, 50
19. Matana Phromduang, 51
20. Ampaiwan Thiangtham, 50
21. Maliwani Mekmahhprom, 53
22. Achara Wiwati, 36
23. Isarya Thiangtham, 25
24. Areena Somgserm (no age)
25. Natkritta Poolsaeng, 6
26. Rund Da (no age)
27. Darunee Songsern (no age).

Four men (two critical) and six women were admitted to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Perak.

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