KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysians were killed and two others seriously injured in a collision between a car and lorry on National Highway 1, northern Kaikoura in New Zealand, on Friday.
According to kiwi news portal www.stuff.co.nz, the accident occurred at about 3.10pm local time.
The identities of the victims have not been ascertained, but the deceased are adults, while the injured – who are in critical condition – are youths.
The five are believed to be family members from Sabah.
The surviving duo was flown by helicopter to the Christchurch Hospital and the Wellington Hospital for treatment.
The accident led to the closure of both sides of the major highway in a bid to facilitate rescue efforts. It is learnt that rescuers were forced to cut open the mangled wreckage to extricate the victims.
New Zealand police are still investigating the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, a Wisma Putra representative confirmed that the accident involved Malaysian citizens and revealed that Malaysia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand will visit the surviving victims in the near future.