Tragedy of bus driver falling asleep at the wheel: 10 DEAD

Driver of crashed bus admits he fell asleep

2009/12/26

IPOH: The driver of an express bus that crashed at Km272.8 of the North-South Expressway early today and left 10 passengers killed and two injured has admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. “He fell asleep at the wheel but breathalyser and drug tests conducted on him proved negative,” Ipoh traffic police chief DSP Mohd Rodzi Rejab told reporters here today.

The double-decker Sani Express bus skidded and hit the road divider as it was heading north, about 8km after the Ipoh Selatan toll plaza at 1am.

The victims had been seated on the lower tier of the bus. The two drivers and the 36 other passengers were unhurt.

It is understood that the driver had taken over the wheel after the bus had stopped at the Simpang Pulai lay-by just before Ipoh.

Mohd Rodzi said the driver was supposed to take over the wheel at the Sungai Perak Rest and Service Area, Kuala Kangsar further ahead.

He declined to comment on whether the driver had any previous records, but said the express bus records were clean.

The police have remanded the driver until Wednesday to facilitate investigations under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.


Meanwhile, PLUS Expressways Berhad (Plus) has announced that the left lane of the North-South Expressway at KM272.8, eight kilometres after the Ipoh Selatan toll plaza, has been closed temporarily to enable police conduct their investigation into a bus accident there early Saturday.

Plus corporate communications manager Iskandar Dzulkifli said Plus workers were also repairing the highway barrier and divider which were badly damaged after an express bus crashed into them, killing 10 passengers and injuring two.

He also said that the traffic congestion in the area following the 1am accident had eased since 8am.

A double-decker Sani Express bus carrying 48 passengers from Klang to Kangar skidded and hit the left barrier before veering to the right and crashing into the divider at 1am. - Bernama

(Source: NST Online)

How many more lives must perish before any pro-active measures are introduced and stiffer penalties imposed for reckless and irresponsible bus drivers?

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