Traffic jam saves UPSI student from boarding ill-fated bus
Her daughter tried calling her friends who were on the bus around 1 am but received no response, before one friend contacted her around 2am to inform her that the bus had been involved in an accident.
09 Jun 2025 04:16pm
The tragic accident near Tasik Banding, Gerik involving the bus and a Perodua Alza MPV claimed 15 lives and left 33 injured, 27 of them in serious condition. Photo by Bernama
KOTA BHARU - A traffic jam caused a Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student to miss boarding the bus that was involved in a fatal accident on the Jeli-Gerik East West Highway early this morning.
Rosyidah Husien, 50, said her daughter Nur Adilah Mohd Rusdi, 20, the fifth of seven siblings, was supposed to board the chartered bus transporting UPSI students from Masjid Hadhari, Jerteh at 9 pm yesterday.
She told Bernama that the car driven by her husband, Mohd Rusdi Ramli, 55, to send their daughter to the pick-up point arrived after the bus had already departed.
"When contacted, the driver said the bus would stop in Machang, but my husband refused to send her there as it was quite far. In the end, my daughter hitched a ride with her uncle, Mohd Nizam Husien, who coincidentally was also travelling to Kuala Lumpur last night,' she said.
Rosyidah said her daughter left their home in Kampung Gong Bayor, Besut around midnight with her uncle.
She said her daughter tried calling her friends who were on the bus around 1 am but received no response, before one friend contacted her around 2am to inform her that the bus had been involved in an accident.
"What shocked us even more was when the police contacted my daughter and informed her that her name was listed as one of the bus passengers.
"In fact, the seat that my daughter was supposed to occupy was seat number nine, but last night it was taken by her friend,' she said.
Rosyidah is grateful her daughter is now safe in Temerloh, although still traumatised and unwilling to be interviewed.
Before departing last night, Rosyidah said Nur Adilah managed to chat with her grandmother and bid her farewell, expressing worry that an accident might happen.
"I did scold her for saying such a thing, but she only smiled. Who would have thought her words would come true? I am so thankful that fate spared her last night,' she said choked with emotion.
Rosyidah added that apart from Nur Adilah, another of her daughter's friends was also spared after not boarding the bus, having been admitted to Besut Hospital due to fever. The tragic accident near Tasik Banding, Gerik involving the bus and a Perodua Alza MPV claimed 15 lives and left 33 injured, 27 of them in serious condition. Photo by Bernama
The tragic accident near Tasik Banding, Gerik involving the bus and a Perodua Alza MPV claimed 15 lives and left 33 injured, 27 of them seriously. - BERNAMA
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
23 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Remains of two UPSI students killed in Gerik crash laid to rest
JERTIH: The remains of two Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who lost their lives in an accident involving a bus and a multi-purpose vehicle along the East-West Highway, Gerik, arrived in their respective hometowns tonight for final rites and burial. The body of Muhammad Adib Hazim Halim, 21, was brought to Masjid Hadhari in Hulu Besut, arriving from Gerik Hospital at about 10.45pm. Nearly 300 individuals — including family members, friends and local residents — gathered to perform funeral prayers led by Imam Mat Jaih Namat. Following the prayers, his remains were taken to the Kampung Pasir Badak Cemetery for burial. The remains of Wan Nur Suhaila Wan Muhammad, 22, brought from Gerik Hospital, arrived at her family's home at 10.50pm before being taken to Masjid Al-Mukhlisin Kampung Amer, Kampung Raja, Besut around 11.13pm for funeral prayers. Residents, close family members, and friends of the deceased attended to perform the funeral prayers and pay their last respects at the mosque. Meanwhile, the remains of 13 other students who died are now en route from Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB), Ipoh, Perak, to Masjid Hadhari for prayers before being buried in their respective hometowns. The convoy of vans carrying the remains of the 13 student victims left the HRPB Forensic Department for Jertih, Terengganu, at 8.55pm and is expected to arrive at Masjid Hadhari at 2am. In the accident that occurred between 12.30am and 1am, 15 UPSI students died after the bus they had chartered from Jertih, Terengganu, to Tanjung Malim, Perak, overturned after being involved in an accident with a Perodua Alza MPV on the JRTB near Tasik Banding, Perak. The accident also resulted in 33 others being injured, including the bus driver and second driver, as well as the Perodua Alza driver and three passengers. - BERNAMA
The Star
33 minutes ago
- The Star
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Monday (June 09, 2025)
Malaysia: * Expanded SST comes into effect July 1 / Sales tax rate revision, service tax scope expansion to be effective July 1, 2025 * Gerik bus crash: Fourteen UPSI students, bus attendant killed in accident * Gerik bus crash: King, Queen extend condolences over deaths of 15 UPSI students * Gerik bus crash: Victim changed plans not to miss class, says sister-in-law * Gerik bus crash: Road conditions were good but road was dark and winding, says Perak police chief * Gerik bus crash: 15-minute late UPSI student escapes fatal crash * Gerik bus crash: Video of incident emerges on social media * Tragic bus crash prompt calls from Malaysians for reform / Gerik bus crash: Taskforce established to investigate accident * Stray Animal Foundation urges government to implement sterilisation programme * Woman loses over RM600,000 to fake share investment scheme * Istana Negara distributes sacrificial meat to 14,000 recipients * Zafrul denies claims of by-election as factor behind Umno exit * Cabinet to decide on cannabis vape factory issue, says Health Minister * Man killed due to a misunderstanding with colleagues * Warisan calls for more Sabahan representation in judiciary, JAC * MCMC: Only eight data types required from telcos in Mobile Phone Data collection initiative * Badminton: Pearly responds to critics after tough four weeks together with Thinaah This handout photograph taken and released on Monday, June 9, 2025 by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) shows smoke billowing from a cargo vessel that caught fire off Beypore coast in India's Kerala state. India deployed coastguard aircraft and a warship on June 9, after a Singapore-flagged container ship caught fire off the southern coast, the defence ministry said. -- Photo by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) / AFP Singapore: * Qantas passengers bound for Singapore to stay night in Azerbaijan after flight from London diverted * Explosions, fires on Singapore-registered cargo ship off India's Kerala coast; no S'poreans on board * Four Singaporean tourists in private-hire car injured in accident near Genting * Singaporean man in Skudai road rage incident remanded * Singaporean man arrested in Johor for alleged involvement in road rage incident * New Singapore study to examine well-being and behaviour of girls in top secondary schools * DBS tops US$100bil market value in first for Singapore banks * Two women arrested after theft spree at Changi Airport transit area * Singaporean actress Pan Lingling's son graduates with first-class honours * Driver who allegedly caused fatal Tampines crash that killed two back in court to face new charge Indonesia: * Indonesia's PSI opens doors for former President Jokowi to join their leading ranks * Indonesia to develop oil palm plantation in South Papua to boost biodiesel production * Batam court hands down life sentence to 10 ex-cops for selling meth * Prabowo, Megawati get cozier amid calls for Gibran's impeachment * Air quality worsens in Greater Jakarta as govt yet to curb pollution * Asian equities rise ahead of US-China trade talks, FX largely flat * Jakarta expects to conclude trade talks with EU soon / EU free trade talks to wrap up this month Indonesian golfer Queen Shine Gracella (left), 10, reacts with her mother during training ahead of the Mandiri Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World Championship 2025, a two-day tournament with 141 players aged 10 to 18 from 21 countries, at the Damai Indah Golf PIK course in Jakarta on Monday, June 9, 2025. -- Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP Thailand: * Thailand races against time to avoid crippling 36% US tariffs in digital trade talks * Thailand continues to tighten border security as a precaution amid ongoing tensions with Cambodia * Thailand, Cambodia agree to de-escalate border standoff * Thai govt warns of military reserve recruitment scams amid border dispute * Thai coalition partners push back, reject cabinet portfolio swaps * Emerging Markets - Asian equities climb; currencies stay steady ahead of US-China trade talks * Oil prices dip, but supported ahead of US-China trade talks Philippines: * United States and China begin high-level key trade talks in London * Billionaire Razon enters Philippines' booming online gambling platform * Philippine Bureau of Investigations employees report boss to Marcos * Marcos wants enough water supply for public schools * Fire razes 70 homes in Bacoor City, displaces 74 families * South Korea: From arms seller to Philippines to deeper defence partner possible Philippine navy ship BRP Andres Bonifacio is seen anchored at Ulugan Bay in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan province, west of Manila. -- Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP Vietnam: * Influx of fresh blood for Malaysia keeps Vietnam coach on guard * Grab plays down GoTo deal, says no talks 'at this time' * Vietnam top carmaker VinFast's revenue surges as EV deliveries jump * Digital storytelling adds new appeal to night tours at Vietnam's Temple of Literature * All gloved up: award-winning absurdist play 'Le Tabouret' heads to Penang * Heavy rain triggers deadly floods and damage in northern region Myanmar: * UN now pushing for ratification of treaty to protect the planet's fragile oceans * Don't let deep sea become 'wild west', Guterres tells world leaders * Trump travel ban in effect, citizens from 12 nations barred from US; citizens from Afghanistan and Myanmar among affected * Myanmar aims to export over 350,000 tonnes of rubber in FY 2025-26 * Minor earthquake strikes near Myanmar's Pyay township Nuns and attendees hold portraits of Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, and the late king Norodom Sihanouk at an event to mark Cambodia's Environment Day and the United Nations' World Environment Day at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh. -- Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP Cambodia: * Tighter border control as Cambodia and Thailand reach an agreement to reposition troops to reduce recent tensions * Hun Sen assures Cambodians that military are committed to peace * Cambodia's trade with Asean reaches US$5.9bil in Jan-April, up 4.6 per cent * Thai bus services to Cambodia halted indefinitely amid border restrictions * Comment: What can Cambodia offer the US ahead of third round of tariff negotiations? Laos: * Central bank governor, ministers reshuffled in major cabinet overhaul in Laos * Laos–Korea Agro Fair marks 30 years of growing partnership * Mekong Capital plans US$200mil agriculture fund next year * US coal mine expansion to boost exports to Asia Brunei: * Brunei employer fined RM115,000 for unpaid wages to domestic helper since 2008 * Cinema screening inspires hope, action for Brunei's seas * Bruneians dominate blowpipe competition in Sarawak Tourists dressed in traditional Thai costumes pose for pictures as they visit Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn, in Bangkok. -- Photo: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa AseanPlus: * Chinese vice Foreign Minister to attend Asean SOM in Malaysia, eyes deep regional consensus * Famed Malaysian chef Darren Chin receives knighthood from the French Republic * Haj 1446H marks final summer Haj until 2050s, says Saudi National Centre for Meteorology * 'Age is just a number': China grandma, 71, comes third in fitness contest, shares health tips * South Korea President Lee, Japan PM Ishiba agree to strengthen ties * South Korea president calls for extra budget to be ready swiftly * Boeing plane lands back in China for delivery as tariff war eases * Lilly's obesity drug sales rise 60% in India amid rising demand * Nepal government employees up in arms against federal civil service bill * Taiwanese star Jiro Wang slams scalpers over soaring Labubu prices: 'Wicked people' * Apple heads into annual showcase reeling from AI missteps, tech upheaval and Trump's trade war * Iran to present counter-proposal to U.S. in nuclear talks * Qualcomm strengthens AI portfolio with US$2.4bil Alphawave deal * OCBC Bank launches Malaysia's first Disney-themed debit card * Japan confirms China's aircraft carrier sailed east of Iwo Jima for first time * Explosion at a US air base in southern Japan injures four Japanese soldiers * Chinese aircraft carrier seen operating deeper into Pacific * Climate change heightens risk of Indian farmer suicides * South Korea President Lee's election law violation hearing postponed indefinitely, court says * Air quality worsens in Greater Jakarta as govt yet to curb pollution * Beijing airports see surging tax refunds for overseas travellers * Tangled humpback whale sparks rescue mission off Australia * Starbucks to lower prices in China as competition heats up * China's May exports slow, deflation deepens as tariffs bite * Explosion reported at US air base in Japan * Sri Lanka issues new guidelines to curb dengue, Chikungunya in schools * China's copper boom under threat as miners test bargaining power * China expands visa-free access to five Latin American countries * HK superstar Jackie Chan returns to the Karate Kid universe * Angles of empowerment: How Barbie's careers are related to the slant of her feet * Shein and Reliance aim to sell India-made clothes abroad within a year: Sources * NATO needs 400% increase in air and missile defence, Rutte will say in London * Jared Leto accused of 'sexual impropriety' by multiple women, some who say they were underage * Badminton: Good news as Zii Jia makes return at Japan Open * Cricket - Australia favourites to retain WTC crown against South Africa * Golf - American lass Jennifer Kupcho finishes strong to claim fourth LPGA title at ShopRite LPGA Classic * Tennis - Prince of Clay Alcaraz battles back from the brink to retain French Open crown
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Gerik crash: UPSI student claims bus driver was speeding, notices burning smell
GERIK: A Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student who survived the bus crash in Gerik, Perak, claimed that the vehicle was speeding before the fatal accident occurred. Nur Irdina Huri, 22, an early childhood education undergraduate, recounted the terrifying moments leading up to the accident. She said the bus was descending a hilly stretch when it began to emit a burning smell, swayed uncontrollably, and appeared to be speeding. "I wasn't asleep at the time. "It all happened so fast. "I managed to escape through a small hole in the bus, but it was too dark - I couldn't help my friends who were calling for help," she said. Nur Irdina sustained injuries to her waist and a sprained ankle. A video of the accident has since gone viral, and the owner of another vehicle who witnessed the incident handed the dashcam footage to the police. Fifteen UPSI students were killed and 33 others injured in an accident involving a tour bus and a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) along the East-West Highway (Jalan Raya Timur Barat) early this morning.
