BUKIT MERTAJAM, March 14 (Bernama) -- Traffic was congested for nine kilometres following an accident involving a trailer and three cars at Kilometre 137.4 of the North-South Expressway (NSE) northbound, between the Juru and Permatang Pauh routes today.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division assistant director John Sagun Francis said 12 victims, including children, were involved in the incident, with several reported to be injured and in serious condition.
He said the department received an emergency call at 3.12 pm and a team from the Perai Fire and Rescue Station (BPP) was dispatched to the scene to carry out rescue operations.
“The accident involved three cars, a Hyundai Elantra, a Proton X70, a Honda BR-V, and a trailer carrying supermarket goods. Two victims were trapped and had been extricated by members of the public before firefighters arrived at the scene.
“Of the 12 victims, three were injured, including a two-year-old girl, travelling in the Honda BR-V. A 42-year-old man sustained serious injuries, while the woman and the child suffered minor injuries,” he said in a statement today.
However, John said information and the condition of the victims in the other two cars, the Hyundai Elantra and Proton X70, which were each carrying four people, as well as the trailer driver, could not be confirmed.
He said firefighters cleared the accident debris at the scene to secure the area, and the injured victims were given initial treatment before they were taken to the hospital for further treatment. The rescue operation ended at 5.17 pm.
-- BERNAMA
