TAPAH: Nine people were killed in a grisly accident involving a van and a lorry transporting ice at Jalan Air Kuning-Mambang Di Awan here, early this morning.
A man and eight women in the van, in their 40s to 60s, died at the scene. They are believed to have been on their way to a vegetable farm near Mambang di Awan.
Tapah district police chief Supt Som Sak Din Keliaw said authorities were alerted to the incident by members of the public at 7am.
"Our preliminary investigation revealed that the lorry driver, who was on his way from Mambang Di Awan to Ayer Kuning, had swerved into the opposing lane causing a head-on collision with the van.
The van driver was identified as Lew San, while the identities of the deceased have yet to be determined.
"The lorry driver suffered a broken leg and was sent to the Kampar Hospital for treatment," Som told reporters at the Tapah Hospital today, adding that police will carry out further investigations.
"We will look into the lorry driver's record. The site, which is a curved road, is an accident hotspot," he added.
The remains of the victims were sent to the Tapah Hospital for post-mortems.
Several people, identified as family members of the deceased, were seen inconsolable at the hospital; while others who had gone to the scene of the accident, broke down upon seeing the wrecked van.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said fire engines from the Tapah and Kampar stations were dispatched after being alerted to the accident.