Dashcam owner comes forward in fatal Gerik crash

New Straits Times

6 days ago

IPOH: The owner of a dashcam has come forward to assist in the investigation into the tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students at Km53 of the Jeli-Gerik Highway here.
Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Noordin said the dashcam owner's statement would be recorded soon, as the footage - now viral - is expected to provide crucial evidence in determining the cause of the crash.
"Yes, so far, dashcam recordings have been submitted.
"We are leaving it to the investigating officer to review the footage, and we will record the statement of the dashcam owner," he told reporters this when met at the Forensic Unit of Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital today.
He said the footage could help clarify key details, including the bus's speed and road conditions at the time of the accident.
"So far, it's only the dashcam that we have, and we will proceed with recording the statement from the dashcam owner.
"It's clear that everyone can see how the bus was speeding, and to make things worse, the railing penetrated the bus body directly from the front.
"That's why the passengers on the left side of the bus were the ones who died, as it went straight into the passenger seats.
"Most of the injured passengers sustained injuries to their left shoulders after being thrown from the right side to the left when the bus overturned," he said.
In the 38-second viral video, the bus is seen speeding and attempting to overtake another car before turning on its side and colliding with the rear of a Perodua Alza.
When asked about survivors who claimed the bus was speeding and there was a burnt smell, Noor Hisam said police would also take their statements regarding the incident.
"We have that information, but I can't reveal it here because it would compromise the investigation. We will record all their statements later," he said.
Noor Hisam said he had also visited the accident site and, based on his observations, the road is indeed steep and the accident occurred around midnight after rain, with dark and difficult-to-see road conditions.
"From my initial observation, there were no visible road lines, and it was completely dark with no markings.
"We are still investigating whether the cause of the accident was human error or technical issues.
"All angles will be considered. This was indeed a serious accident. The bus overturned and collided with the road railing. Fortunately, it did not break through the railing, as there is a ravine on the other side.
"Most of the victims found by rescuers were inside the ditch next to the railing.
"Those who survived managed to crawl out from the bus wreckage, while most of the deceased were inside the bus," he said.
It was reported that 15 people were killed in an accident involving a student bus and a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) along the East-West Highway (Jalan Raya Timur Barat) early this morning.
The bus was travelling from Jerteh, Terengganu, to the university's main campus.