JOHOR BARU: A runaway lorry slammed into 11 other vehicles after its driver lost control of it on the Johor side of the Causeway, but nobody was injured in the accident.
Police detained the 34-year-old driver of the Singapore-bound tipper lorry about four hours after the mishap that happened at around 9.25am.
The pile-up included a van, a bus and nine cars.
Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Raub Selamat said the suspect tested negative for drugs after he was picked up at 1.15pm yesterday.
“The driver lost control of his lorry before crashing into the other vehicles – six of them are Singapore-registered.
“Early investigation found that the lorry, ferrying rock dust into Singapore, encountered some technical damage on its brakes before crashing into the vehicles on the Causeway,” he said, adding that no one was injured in the incident.
ACP Raub said police have opened an investigation paper under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving.
He urged those who witnessed the incident to lodge a report at the nearest police station to help with the investigation.
Videos of the accident have since gone viral on various social media platforms.
Apart from the police, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will also be investigating the case, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
In a post on Facebook, he said strict action will be taken against the driver or the company concerned if it is found to have failed to comply with rules, following a JPJ probe on the 12-vehicle pile-up.
He said this includes suspending the lorry driver’s licence or company’s permit, or other punishments stipulated under the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
Dr Wee said the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) has also been directed to conduct a technical investigation into the cause of the accident.
“I take cases like this very seriously and will not compromise with any party. Any party found guilty will be severely punished as it involves the safety and lives of road users,” he added.