[Kk21pwa9]

Published: Monday December 20, 2010 MYT 1:42:00 PM
Updated: Monday December 20, 2010 MYT 8:40:13 PM

27 killed as tour bus overturns in Cameron Highlands (Update 5)

By CHAN LI LEEN, IVAN LOH, P. ARUNA and KHAIRUL ASHRAF KAMMED

IPOH: Twenty-seven passengers of a tour bus were killed after the vehicle hit a divider and overturned on its way down from Cameron Highlands Monday. Twenty-two died at the scene of the accident and five at the Raja Permaisuri hospital here. Another 10 injured were being treated at the hospital.

This is believed to be the worst road accident in the nation's history. Those killed were two Malaysians and 25 Thai nationals. The bus had 37 passengers onboard, 34 of them Thai tourists. According to Perak state deputy CPO SAC Datuk Zakaria Yusof, the cause of the accident could have been speeding or brake failure.

"The driver was trying to negotiate a sharp bend but failed, causing the vehicle to hit a divider before overturning. "The bus landed on its roof in a ditch about 51m away from the divider," SAC Zakaria said, adding that the impact killed 22 of the victims on the spot. The accident occured at KM15 of the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai road at 11.40am. The bus was heading to Kuala Lumpur from Cameron Highlands.

It is learn that the excursion bus company is registered in Jitra. The impact of the crash was so severe that bodies were flung several metres away from the wreckage while others were trapped deep in the mangled vehicle. It took about 100 police, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department and Public Works Department personnel over three hours to retrieve the bodies.

The wreckage was finally towed downhill at about 4pm, causing massive jams on both sides of the road as far as 5km away. It is learnt that of the 10 survivors, one was discharged after being treated for minor injuries, three were undergoing surgery and the rest warded, as at 7pm.

Meanwhile, the police have issued the names of 26 of those killed. They are:

1.Omar Shahidan, 48 (male, Malaysian bus driver)
2. Soontorn a/l Kian, 38 (male, Malaysian tour guide of Siamese descent)
3. Charcart Knagsuwan, 48 (male)
4. Thanvaraj Poolsang, 36 (female)
5. Nutthiya Inyyim, 50 (female)
6. Poonporn Poolsaene, 41 (male)
7. Sumruay Swatphet, 48 (male)
8. Putharee Akkrarachaw Wanont, 42 (female)
9. Ponethanest Akkrarachaw Wanont, 45 (male)
10. Suchanchida Chaiaueai, 40 (female)
11. Sriwai Swatphet, 42 (female)
12. Prinya Prassakulchai, 48 (female)
13. Chutima Throukool, 25 (female)
14. Thitisak Pongtanarat, 51 (male)
15. Junpen Pongtanarat, 50 (female)
16. Phayong Kruanjinli, 59 (male)
17. Ekachai Na Bangxang, 64 (male)
18. Mantana Phromduag, 51 (female)
19. Rungnada Klungsawan (female)
20. Darunee Songserm (female)
21. Isariya Thiangtham, 25 (female)
22. Ampaiwan Thiangtham, 50 (female)
23. Maliwan Mekmahaprom, 53 (female)
24. Achara Wiwat, 36 (female)
25. Natkritta Poolsaeng, six, (female)
26. Weera Chuntanagon (male)

Major bus accidents in Malaysia in recent years:

Dec 17: Four prison officers killed after a Prisons Department bus plunged into a ravine along the hilly and winding Tambunan-Kota Kinabalu trunk road.

Oct 29: Seven passengers, aged between 13 and 28, killed after their bus skidded and overtured at KM38 Genting Sempah, while enroute to Kuala Lumpur. It was later revealed the driver of the bus had no valid driving licence.

Oct 10: Thirteen killed in bus crash along KM223 of the North-South Expressway (NSE), near the Simpang Ampat toll plaza.

Dec 25, 2009: Ten killed after a double-decker express bus skidded and hit a road divider at KM272.8 of the NSE, after the Ipoh Selatan toll plaza (northbound).

Dec 7, 2008: Ten dead after an express bus skided and overturned at KM146.5 of the NSE, near Pagoh, Johor.

Aug 13, 2007: One of the worst road crashes in Malaysian history claims 22 lives. The bus they victims were in crashed at KM229 of the NSE, near the Bukit Gantang rest area.

March 9, 2007: Six killed after an express bus plunged into a ravine at KM254, NSE, near the Sg Perak rest and recreation area.

July 30, 2006: Eleven pilgrims to the annual St Anne's Feast in Penang were killed when their chartered bus overturned at KM160.8 of the NSE, near the Jawi interchange at Nibong Tebal.

Nov 23, 2003: Fourteen killed when an express bus collides with another bus at KM63, Jalan Lipis-Merapoh near the Pahang-Kelantan border.

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27 die in Cameron Highlands bus crash

Bernama
Published Dec 20 2010



Fire and Rescue Department personnel searching for survivors in the ill-fated tourist bus
Twenty-seven people, many of them tourists from Thailand, were killed when a tour bus hit a divider and overturned on the way down from Cameron Highlands Monday.



The scene of the crash at the Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands highway
Twenty-two died on the spot and five on the way to hospital following the accident at Km15 of the Cameron Highland-Simpang Pulai Road at 11.40 am.

About 15 other passengers were reported to be injured with about 10 of them suffering very serious injuries. The crash has been described as one of Malaysia's worst road accidents in recent years.

Perak Deputy Chief Police Officer Datuk Zakaria Yusof said the double-decker bus belonging to San Express Holiday of Jitra, Kedah, was carrying 37 Thai tourists but the driver, co-driver and tourist guide were Malaysians.

Zakaria said the police and Fire & Rescue personnel were summoned at about noon and deployed about 100 people in the rescue operation.



Paramedics attending to one of the injured passengers
He said the bus was heading to Kuala Lumpur from Cameron Highlands, and it was believed that the tourists were to have flown to Bangkok from Kuala Lumpur.

Zakaria said preliminary investigations indicated that the driver lost control of the bus, causing it to hit the road divider, crash onto the opposite lane and overturn.

He said the identity and gender of the dead were yet to be determined.

[Kk21pwa9]

Tuesday December 21, 2010

27 killed in Camerons crash

Thai holidaymakers die after bus hit divider and overturned.



IPOH: Twenty-seven people were killed when their bus hit a divider and overturned on its way down from Cameron Highlands in what is possibly the worst road accident in Malaysian history. The tragedy at KM15 of the Cameron Highland-Simpang Pulai road claimed the lives of 25 Thai nationals who had been on a holiday in the hill resort.

Perak deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Zakaria Yusof said the other two casualties were driver Omar Shahidan, 48, and tour guide Soontorn Kian, 38. Both were Malaysians. “There were a total of 37 people onboard at the time, 34 were Thai holidaymakers from Bangkok and three others Malaysians,” he said.

The double-decker bus was heading from Cameron Highlands towards Kuala Lumpur at 11.40am yesterday. “The driver was trying to negotiate a sharp bend but failed, causing the bus to hit a divider before overturning. “The bus landed on its roof in a ditch about 51m away from the divider,” SAC Zakaria said.



Horrific accident: Fire and Rescue Department personnel searching the crash site at the Cameron Highland- Simpang Pulai road yesterday.

He said the impact of the crash was so severe that bodies were flung several metres away from the wreckage while others were trapped deep in the mangled vehicle. Twenty-two of the victims were killed on the spot. Five others died after being rushed to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital here. SAC Zakaria said the cause of the accident could have been due to speeding or technical failure of the brakes.



It took about 100 personnel from the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department and Public Works Department over three hours to retrieve the bodies. The wreckage was finally towed downhill at about 4pm, causing massive jams on both sides of the road as far as 5km away.

It is learnt that of the 10 survivors, one was discharged after being treated for minor injuries; three were undergoing surgery and the rest warded as at 7pm. SAC Zakaria said the bus was heading to Kuala Lumpur where the Thais were believed to have been scheduled to fly back to Bangkok.

The Cameron Highland-Simpang Pulai Road, which has many curves and gradients, was opened to traffic in 2003. It is an alternative road to the highlands besides the Tapah route

[Kk21pwa9]

Tuesday December 21, 2010

Eerie silence at hospital mortuary

IPOH: An eerie atmosphere hung over the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital mortuary here as the bodies were brought in by two vehicles. At 2.35pm, a police truck arrived with nine, followed by a Civil Defence Department truck with 12 bodies some 90 minutes later. Those present at the mortuary fell silent as the black body bags were brought down from the vehicles.



Badly injured: One of the few survivors, Iuntnapa Chuchart, 53, who is suffering from multiple laceration wounds on her face being kept at the hospital for observation. (Right) Fire and rescue department personnel helping a victim of the crash at the Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highland road yesterday.

Grim police, hospital and funeral parlour representatives helped to wheel the bodies into the mortuary. Hospital staff also promptly began with post-mortem work. As the day progressed, the remains of those who had survived the crash but died at the hospital, were brought to the mortuary.

“Never have we received so many bodies in a single day,” said a mortuary staff. As at 8.30pm, the mortuary was still crowded with people as post-mortems continued. Tourism Ministry officials were at hand to help the victims’ families.

Expressing his sadness over the tragedy after visiting the injured at the hospital, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the state crisis response team would be investigating the accident.

He added that the state would also look into the possibility of getting accommodation for families of the victims. He said Thai Embassy minister counsellor Somphong Kang Thong had informed him that the families would be flying in from Bangkok today.

[Kk21pwa9]

Tuesday December 21, 2010

The dead victims

The deceased Thai nationals identified so far:

Charcart Knagsuwan, 48

Thanvarat Poolsang, 36

Nutthiya Inyyim, 50

Poonporn Poolsaene, 41

Sum Ruay Swatphet, 48

Putharee Akkrarachaw Wanont, 42

Ponethanest Akkrarachaw Wanont, 45

Suchanchida Chaiaueai, 40

Sriwai Swatphet, 22

Prinya Prassakulchai, 48

Chutina Throukool, 25

Thitisak Pongtanarat, 51

Junpen Pongtanarat, 50

Phayong Kruajinli, 49

Ekachai Na Bangxang, 64

Montona Phromduang, 51

Ampaiwan Thiangtham, 50

Maliwan Mek Mahaprom, 53

Achara Wiwat, 36

Isariya Thiangtham, 25

Natkritta Poolsaeng, six

Weera Chuntanagon

Rung Da

Darunee Songserm

[Kk21pwa9]

Published: Wednesday December 22, 2010 MYT 10:04:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday December 22, 2010 MYT 5:57:13 PM

Camerons crash: Bodies of Thai victims flown home (Updated)

By CHAN LI LEEN, IVAN LOH and RACHEL LAW
Pictures by SAIFUL BAHRI

PETALING JAYA: The bodies of 25 Thai victims of Monday's horrific bus crash have been flown back to Bangkok. Two Royal Thai Air Force C130 aircraft left the Subang air force base near here around 5.03pm and were expected to arrive at their destination in two-and-a-half hours.



Pramualrat Phimpahu, 45, waiting to be carried into an ambulance at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital to be taken to the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang

Also onboard were 28 family members of the victims, and one passenger who was hurt in the accident. Three others were sent back earlier by ambulance.

Earlier, in Ipoh, Thai Embassy officials arrived at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital mortuary at 8am to make arrangements to send home bodies of the Thai tourists killed in the bus crash along the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai road.

Buddhist monks, Thai Embassy officials and family members kneeled and offered prayers before 25 coffins draped in white cloth which were arranged in two neat rows outside the mortuary.



Areena Songserm, 19, inside an ambulance which will take her Bukit Kayu Hitam where she will be received by Haadyai Hospital officers. With her is her mother Senah Songserm.

Joss sticks and yellow chrysanthemums were also offered to the deceased. The coffins were then loaded onto a 25-tonne trailer to be transported to the Subang air force base.

An additional van had to be used as the trailer could not fit all 25 bodies. Both vehicles, together with other vehicles ferrying embassy officials and family members, left the mortuary at 12.15pm.

Haadyai Hospital consultant Choowit Jiranivatanont said four patients in stable condition were also discharged from the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital.

Crash survivors Areena Songserm, 20, Rungnapa Klungsuwan, 53, Suchanchira Chaiaueai, 41, were transported to the Bukit Kayu Hitam border before being sent to the Hattyai Hospital.



Minmita Theenakun, 29, (second from right) being consoled by a family member at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital where she claimed the bodies of her parents Phuwadit and Thanathon Tanasak Theenakun.

They left the hospital at 11.27am in two ambulances, escorted by a van with Thai embassy officials.

Another survivor, Pramualarat Phimpahu, 45, was taken to Subang air force base to be flown to Bangkok.

Thai Ambassador to Malaysia Thana Duangratana thanked the Malaysian government for its assistance.

Two police outriders and two police MPVs escorted the trailer with the bodies to Shah Alam.

[Kk21pwa9]

Wednesday December 22, 2010

Experts: High-decked bus unsuitable for highlands

PETALING JAYA: The bus involved in the horrific accident along the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai road which killed 27 people was to be used only for city tours, not for long-distance travels, especially those involving hilly terrain, experts say. They said high-decked buses were unsuitable for travelling uphill as the centre of gravity was higher, making such vehicles very unstable.

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) vehicle safety and engineering division director Dr Wong Shaw Voon said such buses were only meant for city tours, like the famous ones used in London. “The bus can become unstable when going uphill or when travelling at a higher speed. This is especially when drivers negotiate sharp bends,” he said.



Thorough probe: Miros personnel checking the front axle and tyres that came off from the ill-fated bus

Dr Wong, commenting on investigations into the horrific accident on Monday, said Miros was looking into the design of the bus, overloading of passengers on the upper deck, the concrete barrier of the road and other factors.

“The accident site was known as a black spot area,” said Dr Wong, adding that more signboards were needed to alert drivers. He said all the passengers of the ill-fated bus were seated in the upper deck, adding: “This can result in instability and the centre of gravity is out.”

The lower deck, he said, was designed as a conference room and was filled with the passengers’ luggage. Asked if such a vehicle was allowed to travel uphill, Dr Wong said: “A high-decked bus is more stable if its centre of gravity is lower.”

Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh said an initial study by Miros showed that the ill-fated bus was a 1.5 decker where its design was “within the safety specifications”.

Miros director-general Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said such vehicles should only travel on flat road surfaces and that bus operators should take the suitability and condition of buses into consideration before ferrying passengers around.

State Public Works Departments director Datuk Dr Safry Kamal said high-decked buses should not be driven on hilly terrains. He added that they could easily topple over due to their high centre of gravity.

A review, he said, should be conducted on allowing such vehicles on highlands. A check at the accident site yesterday showed that debris from the crash had not yet been cleared. The roof of the bus was still in the ditch where it landed along with the metal debris from the wreckage.

The police, Public Works Depart_ment, Road Transport Department and Miros personnel were at the scene to gather information on the crash. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said initial findings showed that the ill-fated bus had only one driver instead of two.

“The site is also a black spot. A lorry was involved in a road accident just a few kilometres away about 10 days ago,’’ he said, adding that the investigations into the incident are expected to be completed in 10 days’ time.

Kong also said that there was no law to prohibit high-decked buses from travelling uphill. Meanwhile, SK Murni Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd denied that the San Express Holiday (SEH) tour bus, bearing registration number AFX 2266, belonged to the company.

Calls made to San Express Holiday based in Jitra were not answered.

[Kk21pwa9]

Wednesday December 22, 2010

Punters make up the numbers at mortuary

IPOH: Four-digit lottery punters paid little respect for the dead, gathering at the mortuary to take down the registration number of the ill-fated bus, which crashed and killed 27 people on Monday.

The mortuary at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital was visited by strangers who did not have any business there.

One of them was seen calculating for at least 15 minutes in front of a white board with the names of the deceased written on it. In his hands were several 4D slips.

“I was here on Monday after the bus crash, but the numbers I placed my bets on were not the winning numbers. “So I’m back here to recalculate the numbers,” said the man.

A security guard stationed at the mortuary revealed that it was a norm for the mortuary to get such visitors even on days where there were no major accidents or disasters.

“They may be just trying their luck but they are actually being disrespectful to the dead,” he said.