Preliminary investigations found that the Immigration truck driver was travelling from the KL Immigration Office to Chow Kit to pick up detainees following an operation against undocumented migrants.
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has ordered the Immigration Department to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into a crash involving one of its trucks that killed three members of a family in Jalan Sultan Ismail early today.
Anwar said appropriate action must be taken without compromise if the investigation found any negligence or breach of the law.
“My condolences to those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.
“I have instructed the Immigration Department to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation. If there was negligence or a breach of the law, appropriate action must be taken without compromise,” he said in a statement.
The crash, which occurred at about 1am at the Maju Junction traffic light intersection, claimed the lives of a 53-year-old man and his two daughters, aged 25 and 12.
The victims died at the scene after an Immigration Department truck allegedly ran a red light, collided with a Proton Saga and then veered into four pedestrians from the same family.
The man’s 55-year-old wife was injured in the crash, suffering injuries to her head, hands and legs. She was taken to the red zone of Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment.
Kuala Lumpur Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the crash involved an empty Isuzu truck belonging to the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Immigration Department, a Proton Saga, an Inokom Matrix and four pedestrians.
Preliminary investigations found that the 43-year-old Immigration truck driver was travelling from the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Office to Chow Kit to pick up detainees following an operation against undocumented migrants.
“The truck is believed to have entered the intersection while the traffic light was red, with its beacon lights and siren activated,” he said in a statement today.
At the same time, the Proton Saga, driven by a 50-year-old man, was travelling straight through the intersection after its traffic light turned green.
Zamzuri said the Saga driver was believed to have been unable to avoid the Immigration truck, resulting in a collision in the middle of the intersection.
The impact caused the Immigration truck to lose control and veer off the road before crashing into the four pedestrians. It also struck an Inokom Matrix driven by a 38-year-old man, which was stationary at the intersection.
All three drivers were unharmed.
Police arrested the Immigration truck driver and the Proton Saga driver to assist with investigations. Breathalyser tests and preliminary urine screenings on both drivers returned negative results.
Police have inspected the scene, obtained closed-circuit television footage and are tracing independent witnesses. The vehicles involved were also taken for further inspection.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
