Lorry Driver Fatally Injured in Six-Vehicle Pile-Up near Pontian

In Pontian, a lorry driver, 27, was killed and his assistant-driver, 21, was injured in a six-vehicle accident at KM45.5 Jalan Johor Baru-Batu Pahat.

Pontian OCPD Supt Mohammad Shofee Tayib said the incident happened at 1.50pm on Tuesday when the vehicles were queuing at a traffic light.

“A lorry driven by a 54-year-old man suddenly crashed into the victim’s lorry, which was the fifth vehicle in line.

“The crash caused a chain reaction with all the vehicles colliding into the vehicles ahead of them.

“However, the impact resulted in the victim, Tan Zhuo Sheng, suffering a severe chest and leg injury and was declared dead at the scene,” he said in a statement.

The injured assistant driver, Tan Zhuo Tong, the deceased’s younger brother, was taken to Pontian Hospital for treatment while the other drivers were unhurt, he added.

The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road and Transport Act 1987.

Meanwhile, Mohd Asnawi Jumaat, the operation commander of Pekan Nenas Fire and Rescue Department, said the victim’s body was extricated using a rescue tool before being handed over to the police.

“We dispatched six personnel and a fire truck to the location to assist with the rescue operation,” he said.