RAWANG: Several cyclists from the Malaysian para-cycling squad were injured in a suspected hit-and-run accident as they were coming down from Cameron Highlands today.
The 10.45am incident took place at KM12.5 of the KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR) near Templer.
The team was training for the upcoming Asean Para Games when the tragedy struck.
It is believed that a black Toyota Hilux pickup truck had struck the cyclists. The truck fled the scene.
Four cyclists were injured as a result. Pilot tandem Nor Rizuan Zainal, 31, had suspected spinal injuries, while his teammate, stoker tandem Khairul Azwan Wahab, 25, had multiple fractures.
Two other cyclists, Khairul Nizam Mohd Ali, 23, and Nur Syafiq, 19, were also rushed to the Sungai Buloh Hospital for treatment.
Khairul Nizam and Khairul Azwan are blind.
All four cyclists sustained broken limbs as a result of the accident.
Coach Johari Nayan said the black Hilux left the scene without even checking on the cyclists.
"I was not exactly aware of what happened when we were cycling down.
"The next thing I knew, I was already lying on the road, with injuries on my body and legs.
"I saw a black Hilux but the driver left us there as we waited for help to come," he said when contacted.
Johari was unable to give further details as he and the others were being ferried to the hospital by ambulance.
Assistant coach Mohd Iqbal Sokri said the cyclists were doing motorpacing, and were about 200 metres ahead of the team van.
"When we crested the summit in the van, we found them scattered all over the road. It was all so sudden," he said.
Another official said Johari was pacing the riders while they were following behind. The team went out of sight while at a corner.
"As we reached the spot, we saw them sprawled on the road while the driver of the pickup which is believed to have hit them, was nowhere to be seen.
"A motorcyclist who happened to be passing by stopped and gave us a hand," he said.