KUALA LUMPUR: Police have confirmed that the crash involving a Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (Pasti) tour bus, which collided with a tree along Jalan Persiaran near Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), was caused by the driver allegedly dozing off due to fatigue.
Serdang police chief Assistant Commissioner Muhamad Farid Ahmad said initial investigations found that the 44-year-old male driver was sleep-deprived at the time of the incident.
“The cause of the accident, based on investigations, was the driver’s lack of rest. It is believed he dozed off while driving along the stretch of road.
“However, preliminary screening showed that he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” he said in a statement today.
He added that the bus driver is currently under a two-day remand to assist investigations under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving, which carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine between RM5,000 and RM15,000.
He also said checks revealed that the individual has 13 previous summonses under his name.
In the incident, which occurred at 12.18pm yesterday, the bus carrying 30 students and five teachers skidded and crashed into a tree along Jalan Persiaran Universiti 1, UPM.
At the time, the group was en route from a chocolate factory to the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang.
Three students and one teacher sustained minor head injuries and were treated at Serdang Hospital.
They were discharged on the same day.
Meanwhile, Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the department will conduct an Inspection and Safety Audit on the bus operator, and further action will be taken once the audit report is completed.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
