Driver of deadly runaway lorry identified

The Star, Thursday, 21 January 2016

SHAH ALAM: Police have identified the driver of the out-of-control lorry which killed two students in Kajang on Jan 14.

“Based on our investigations, the driver of the lorry, an Indonesian national, ran away from the scene following the accident,” said Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Abdul Samah Mat, adding that police were now tracking him down.

“We arrested another worker at the scene of the incident,” he said after attending the first Selangor police assembly of 2016 at the police headquarters here yesterday.

Form One students Lau Zi Xin and Wong Siow Xuen were buying fried chicken outside their school when the runaway lorry caused a massive collision which led to their deaths.

A security guard claimed to have seen the lorry rolling downhill after “some unidentified workers” meddled with it.

The lorry knocked into a Proton Wira and a Toyota Avanza before ploughing through a row of motorcycles. Both students died at the scene.

Mahajaya Berhad, the developer of the housing project near the school, said that the runaway lorry belonged to its contractor and that it was cooperating with the police in the investigation.

In a statement, Mahajaya said that it had been “diligent” and had encouraged its contractors to hire trained workers to operate machinery at its sites.

“We would like to clarify that the truck is owned by one of our contractors and it is not licensed to be driven on public roads nor permitted by us or the contractor to be driven out of its permitted zone.

“However, we would like to add that on that particular day, we were informed that the truck was stolen from our construction site and ended up in the horrific accident.

“The insurer was notified and is currently carrying out its investigation and evaluation to determine the extent of the loss and damage,” Mahajaya said in an e-mail.

At another event, Selangor Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Nazli Md Taib said the department was keeping a watchful eye on the construction site there.

“We are looking to crack down on this problem if it arises anywhere in the state,” he said.