Eight dead, 33 injured in Penang road tragedy

Eight people died in an early morning crash involving two factory buses and a van along the North-South Expressway today. 

The crash reportedly happened about 5.40am at kilometre 147, just before the Juru Toll Plaza in Seberang Perai, Penang. 

Berita Harian Online quoted Penang Fire and Rescue Services Department deputy chief Mohd Shoki Hamzah as saying that the buses were ferrying people to the Sony factory in Prai and the Plexus factory in Bayan Lepas.

Six people died at the scene while two others succumbed to their injuries while being treated at the Seberang Jaya Hospital (HSJ), said the report further. 

At least 33 others, who were injured in the incident, are being treated at the same hospital. 

According to Shoki, attempts to extricate the remaining victims are still in progress.  

Meanwhile, NST Online quoted Seberang Prai Tengah police chief ACP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid saying that one of the buses, which was ferrying Indonesian and Nepalese workers, had stalled in the left lane after suffering engine problems. 

"Another bus, carrying 15 workers, failed to brake in time and rammed into the first bus, pushing it to the right side of the road," he said.

All the deceased were female and of the 33, 23 sustained serious injuries while the rest were minor. - Mkini