MUAR: Speeding was likely the cause of the Pagoh bus accident that killed 14 people on the eve of Christmas today.
Muar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Azman Ayob said initial investigations revealed that the incident, which occurred at around 3.45am, had not involved other vehicles.
Azman said police found skid marks on the road left by the bus’ tyres trailing some 150 metres along the left side of the expressway leading towards the edge of the cliff over which the bus plunged.
The Alisan Golden Coach Express bus plunged into a 6 metre-deep ravine beside the stretch, indicating that it was driven at high speed.
"Initial checks show there are no brake marks, based on the uninterrupted 150 metre-long skid mark found on the expressway, which indicates there was no attempt by the driver to slow down," he said.
Azman added that the bus, which was en route to Kuala Lumpur's Bandar Tasik Selatan Integrated Bus Terminal, had initially departed from JB Sentral, Johor Baru, at around midnight last night.
He said the deceased comprise six men, eight women, and a toddler, who were all from the front row seats.
He said another seven Malaysian men, five Singaporean men, two Myanmar men, one Singaporean woman and another female victim whose identity is not yet known, survived the crash, but with injuries.
"The impact of the crash was greatest when the bus hit the concrete wall of the Kampung Jayo tunnel," he said, referring to a structure at the ravine.
Azman said police are still trying to get hold of the bus operator, but to no avail.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless driving.
All of the victims, including the 14 who perished in the incident, were taken to the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist hospital.