Teluk Intan: The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has disclosed that the gravel-laden lorry involved in the recent tragic collision with a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) truck on Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam lacked the necessary permit to transport its cargo.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initial investigation report indicated that the tipper lorry was authorized to carry coal, yet it was loaded with 40,960 kilogrammes of gravel at the time of the accident. This load surpassed the legal limit by more than 70 percent. Additionally, the lorry was not fitted with a Global Positioning System (GPS), as mandated by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD).
The report highlighted that the lorry contravened the terms of its Written Authorisation License pursuant to Section 57 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010. The fatal accident, occurring at 8.54 am on May 13, resulted in the deaths of nine FRU members and injuries to nine others when their truck collided with the tipper lorry.
Further investigations by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) are ongoing, with plans to forward the case to the prosecution. The report also pointed out that the absence of seat belts and the design of the 'bench' seats in the FRU truck contributed significantly to the high casualty rate.
It was noted that the injuries sustained by the victims were worsened by loose objects in the cabin, which became dangerous projectiles during the crash. The lack of restraint systems and presence of unrestrained items were identified as major factors leading to severe injuries and fatalities.
The investigation revealed no seatbelt facilities for the driver and front passenger of the FRU lorry. Furthermore, the bench-type seats accommodating most passengers were not compliant with United Nations (UN) Regulation No. 17 or UN Regulation No. 80.
The report also detailed that the tipper lorry veered into the opposite lane, occupied by the FRU convoy, leading both vehicles to overturn. The incident took place under favorable weather and road conditions, with no mechanical failures found in either vehicle.
The gravel-laden lorry's driver, aged 45, had a history of 13 traffic summonses from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and one from the JPJ. The lorry's operating company also failed the JPJ Inspection and Safety Audit (JISA), scoring just 17 out of the required 70 points.
The report emphasized the existence of deficiencies in the safety management and operation of the tipper lorry and noted ongoing investigations to identify additional factors contributing to the accident, encompassing human, organizational, vehicle, and other related aspects.