KLUANG: A lorry driver and his assistant remain missing after their poultry truck, loaded with live chickens plunged into Sungai Benut from the North-South Expressway (southbound) bridge, some 7.62 meters high, following a crash at KM 63.7, here, last night.
Dashcam recordings of the poultry truck coming to a stop at the two-lane highway were circulated on social media platforms.
It is learnt that one of its tyres exploded and the driver was unable to manoeuvre the truck to the emergency lane on his left.
Fire and Rescue Department Operation commander Norhisam Ihwan said 14 personnel were deployed to the scene following the 10.41pm distress call.
He said upon arriving at the scene, the poultry lorry and crates of live chickens were in Sungai Benut, which is only a metre deep.
They could not locate the driver nor his assistant.
Earlier, a 29-year-old container driver crashed into the stalled lorry's rear, which caused it to plunge into Sungai Benut.
The man sustained injuries in the crash and was rushed to the hospital.
Norhisam said a search and rescue operation is underway to locate the missing men.
The rescue operation included a search through the poultry truck wreckage and a 50-meter radius of the crash site search.
The wrecked lorry was crane-lifted out of the river, yet both the driver and assistant are yet to be found at press time.
It is believed that the poultry lorry driver and his assistant had fled the scene, following the accident.
Kluang police is expected to release a statement soon.