LIPIS: A lorry driver and his assistant, who stopped to help a broken-down lorry, were killed after a pickup truck rammed into them at Km57 of the Central Spine Road near Kampung Gua Tagang in Merapoh here today.
Mohd Aizad Rosdi, 27, and his assistant Rushaidee Rusli, 22, were killed along with the driver of the broken-down trailer Mohd Izani Mohd Yusoff, 31, in the 2.35am accident.
The Toyota Hilux driver and Izani's assistant suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital.
Lipis police chief Superintendent Ismail Man said investigations revealed Izani's trailer, laden with wood, was heading to Selangor from Tanah Merah, Kelantan.
"The trailer encountered brake problems forcing Izani to stop the vehicle along the road shoulder near the Kampung Merapoh exit. Sometime later, another lorry belonging to the same company stopped in front of Izani's trailer to assist.
"While the four men (both drivers and assistants) were carrying out repairs on the left side of the faulty trailer, the Hilux travelling along the same direction is believed to have lost control and crashed into them.
"Izani, Aizad and Rushaidee were killed at the scene. The Hilux driver was rushed to Lipis Hospital while Izani's co-driver was taken to Gua Musang Hospital in Kelantan," he said in a statement.
Ismail said investigations were being carried out under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving and urged those with information to contact the Lipis police headquarters at 09-3121999, or any nearest police station.
It was earlier reported that three men repairing a faulty trailer were killed and two others injured at Jalan Merapoh-Kuala Lipis today.