5 killed, 7 injured after van crashes into lorry

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TRAGIC END: Firemen moving the bodies of the victims from the wreckage.

BINTULU: Five workers from the Samalaju Industrial Park died when the van ferrying them home from work crashed into the back of a lorry parked at the side of Bintulu-Miri coastal road about 42km from here at 7.45 last night.

Seven others in the van including the driver were injured, some seriously and were taken to the government hospital here by ambulances which rushed to the scene together with the police and Fire and Rescue Department personnel.

It was reported that the engine of the lorry had caught fire earlier forcing the driver to abandon it.

It was not known if he had put any warning sign to warn motorists of broken down lorry by the road side.

Nearby residents said that stretch of road was very dark as it had no street lighting and that the van veered into the drain after hitting the lorry.

The police had yet to make a statement on the accident at press time.