TEMERLOH: Two people were killed when the lorry they were travelling in crashed into a trailer, sending both vehicles plunging into a 20 metre ravine on Jalan Bukit Damar near Lanchang yesterday.
The victims, a 37-year-old Bangladeshi and a 35-year-old Pakistani, died at the scene in the 9.26pm accident.
Three others, including the 28-year-old Inokom lorry driver, his 30-year-old passenger, and the 38-year-old trailer driver, were treated at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital (Hoshas).
Temerloh police chief Assistant Commissioner Mazlan Hassan said investigations revealed that four people—a local driver and three foreigners—were travelling in the three-tonne lorry from Raub to Kuantan.
"The lorry driver is believed to have swerved onto the road shoulder before veering into the opposite lane, where it collided with the oncoming trailer. Both vehicles then plunged into a 20 metre ravine," Mazlan said in a statement.
"Two passengers in the lorry suffered severe head injuries and died at the scene."
Mazlan added that the lorry driver, a Bangladeshi passenger, and the trailer driver sustained injuries and were taken to Hoshas. The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Zulfadli Zakaria said 13 firefighters from the Mentakab and Karak fire stations were despatched to the scene at 9.43pm.
"The injured victims were lifted from the ravine using stretchers and ropes. A crane and rescue tools were used to extricate two victims pinned under the lorry," he said.