KUALA LUMPUR: An oil tanker driver had a close shave with death when the vehicle crashed into a car and burst into flames after entering the opposite lane at Km44.6 of North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite).
The 53-year-old escaped without any injuries, while a woman driving another car only sustained minior injuries in the noon incident today.
Nilai district police chief Superintendent Abdul Malik Hasim said the driver of tanker laden with palm oil failed to avoid a car before losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a Proton Saga on the right lane.
The impact caused the car to spin and come to a halt across the middle of the highway.
"The tanker then struck the metal guardrail on the right side (in the middle of the expressway), crossed into the opposite lane, and came to a stop in the emergency lane while on fire.
"The accident caused vehicle debris to be scattered across the expressway, and two other cars, a Perodua Bezza and a Mazda CX3, from the opposite direction, collided with the debris," he said in a statement.
Malik added that the driver of the Proton Saga, a 21-year-old woman, survived with only minor injuries and was taken to the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban for treatment.
Meanwhile, other victims involved in the accident, including the tanker driver, escaped without any injuries.
Malik said the case has been classified under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, and investigations are ongoing.
He urged witnesses or anyone with information regarding this accident to come forward and assist with the investigation.
"Information can be relayed through the Nilai district police control Centre at 06-7904389 or by contacting Inspector Muhammad Farid Danial Azli, at 012-9122198."
Earlier, several videos went viral on social media, capturing the tense moments, including one that shows the burning tanker speeding into the opposite lane before skidding and being involved in the accident.
In the video clip recorded by a dashboard camera, two cars and a motorcycle are seen narrowly avoiding a collision with the tanker which was moving fast and on fire. The tanker only came to a stop in the expressway's emergency lane.