PADANG BESAR: Three people, including two students, were killed when a huge tree crashed on a van carrying a group of students near the Perlis Felda sugar factory in Chuping yesterday.
The victims were identified as the van driver, Shahidan Ali, 67, Ahmad Izzat Ismail from Tanjong Tokong, Penang and Hazman Bakhtiar Sharizan of Taman Kenanga, Kulim, Kedah.
Ahmad Izzat, 17, and Hazman Bakhtiar, 14, were students of Ma’ahad Attarbiyah Al Islamiyah Tunjong, near here.
Padang Besar OCPD Supt Che Man Md Dros said another student, Mohd Ahnaf Anissofian, 14, sustained serious injuries in the 9.15am incident and had been sent to Tuanku Fauziah Hospital, here.
The rest of the students escaped with minor injuries.
The students were on their way to conduct a visit to a factory for their local studies project organised by the school.
One of the students, Zulfadhli Rodzi, 14, said they were approaching the factory when the huge tree crashed on the van, badly damaging the front.
It was raining at that time, he added.
Those who were not seriously injured climbed out of the vehicle through the windows and asked for help from the factory’s security guards, said Zulfadhli, who was seated at the back when the incident occurred.
Fire and rescue personnel took out the bodies from the wreckage.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu was among state leaders who were at the hospital and met families of the victims. — Bernama