SETIU: A Covid-19 elderly patient was among five victims injured in an accident involving five vehicles including two ambulances, here, yesterday.
In the 6.55pm incident, the 74-year-old from Kampung Mak Kemas, Bukit Payong, Marang, suffered minor leg injuries and was later taken to the Setiu Hospital (HS).
Setiu police chief Deputy Superintendent Afandi Hussain, said the 49-year-old ambulance driver from Bandar Baru Bukit Mentok, Kemaman suffered minor injuries to the nape of his neck while a 30-year-old accompanying nurse sustained a leg injury.
He said the incident occurred when an ambulance carrying Covid-19 patients from Kemaman Hospital to Setiu Hospital overtook a lorry when it arrived in front of a petrol station at KM57, Jalan Kota Baru - Kuala Terengganu in Kampung Chalok Kedai, here.
While overtaking the lorry, the ambulance driver suddenly saw a Perodua Axia and a Perodua Aruz waiting to enter the petrol station.
"The ambulance driver tried to brake and dodge the two vehicles but failed due to the close distance of the vehicles and collided with the Perodua Axia driven by a 23-year-old man from Kampung Banggol, Jalan Pantai Cahaya Bulan, Kelantan.
"The crash caused the Perodua Axia to collide with the Perodua Aruz which was in front causing the vehicle to turn turtle.
"The 40-year-old driver of the vehicle broke his right leg while his 39-year-old wife suffered minor injuries," he said.
He said, at the same time another ambulance from the Hulu Terengganu Hospital which was ferrying patients to the Besut Hospital failed to dodge the first ambulance's sudden brake and ended up rear-ending it.
The momentum from the impact of the crash carried the second ambulance into the adjacent lane before it was struck by a Daihatsu lorry driven by a 61-year-old man coming from the opposite direction.
He said all the injured victims were taken to the Setiu Hospital for treatment.
Investigation into the incident is being carried out under Section 43 (1) of the Road Transport Act (APJ) 1987.