Lorry driver involved in fatal FRU collision has criminal history, says police chief

TELUK INTAN: The 45-year-old lorry driver involved in the head-on collision with a Federal Reserve Unit vehicle, which resulted in the death of nine personnel, has six prior criminal cases against him, according to Perak police chief Datuk Comm Noor Hisam Nordin (pic).

“The suspect has over 20 years of lorry driving experience. However, he tested negative for drugs following a urine test.

“However, he has six prior criminal cases against him mostly related to narcotics, as well as multiple outstanding traffic summonses,” he told reporters at the Teluk Intan Hospital mortuary on Saturday (May 13).

When asked if the lorry driver was an ex-convict, Comm Noor Hisam said he does have prior records, but he is unable to comment if he served time or not, as it is still under investigation.

Comm Noor Hisam said the FRU vehicle was part of a seven-vehicle convoy, which included one bus, four heavy trucks, and two Land Rovers.

He said the truck involved in the collision was the fifth vehicle in the convoy and was carrying equipment, which contributed to the severity of the impact.

Comm Noor Hisam stated that the FRU’s standard operating procedure outlines that such deployments typically span over three days, with one day allocated for travel to the assignment location, one for the assignment itself, and one for the return journey.

He said according to the latest update, the accident has resulted in the deaths of nine members of Unit 5 of the FRU from Sungai Senam—eight died at the scene and one at the hospital.

He said the injured personnel are still receiving emergency treatment, and they are awaiting the post-mortem process at the hospital.

“The process is expected to start at about 2.30pm and may conclude, at the earliest, by 8pm tonight, as there are nine bodies and conducting autopsies will take time.

“However, all arrangements to transport the bodies from Teluk Intan to Ipoh have been made.

“Among the nine victims, seven are Muslims, and two are non-Muslims, one of Orang Asli background and one Indian,” he said.

He said eight of the deceased are from Perak, while one is from Kedah.

The accident took place at KM15 of Jalan Sungai Manik, involving a convoy from the FRU (Unit 5) and a lorry transporting rocks, which collided head-on.

The convoy was on its way back to their base in Sungai Senam in Ipoh after completing their security assistance assignment in conjunction with the Chitra Pournami festival in Teluk Intan.