SUNGAI PETANI: Sungai Petani was struck by tragedy when six members of a family lost their lives in a horrific road accident involving a 10-tonne soil lorry and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) at Kampung Baru Pinang Tunggal. The crash, which also left a young child critically injured, has shocked the local community and drawn urgent attention to road safety once again.
According to the Fire and Rescue Department, the incident occurred in the afternoon and was reported at around 3.46pm. Rescue teams from the Tikam Batu Fire and Rescue Station were immediately dispatched to the scene after receiving an emergency call. Upon arrival, responders found a severe collision between a lorry carrying soil and a Proton X50 SUV.
Tikam Batu Fire and Rescue Station chief Assistant Fire Superintendent Fauzi Shuaib confirmed that the SUV was carrying seven occupants, including a six-month-old baby. The impact of the crash was so severe that six of the passengers were pronounced dead at the scene by medical officers from the Ministry of Health.
He further stated that a three-year-old girl survived the crash but sustained serious injuries. The child was quickly rushed to hospital by medical personnel for urgent treatment. Her condition is being closely monitored.
Early reports indicate that the collision involved a heavily loaded lorry and the SUV along a stretch of road in Kampung Baru Pinang Tunggal. The exact cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed, and investigations are ongoing to determine whether factors such as road conditions, speed, or driver error may have contributed to the tragedy.
Authorities have also reminded road users to exercise extreme caution, especially when sharing roads with heavy vehicles. The force of impact in such collisions can be devastating, as seen in this incident where an entire family was affected within moments.
Local residents gathered near the scene shortly after the accident, expressing grief and disbelief over the scale of the tragedy. Many described the road stretch as busy and urged for improved safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This heartbreaking accident has once again highlighted the importance of strict adherence to traffic regulations and defensive driving, particularly on rural and semi-urban roads where heavy vehicles frequently operate. As investigations continue, families of the victims are expected to receive assistance and support from relevant agencies.
The nation now mourns another devastating loss on the road, with calls growing louder for stronger enforcement and improved road safety awareness to protect innocent lives.
