Three siblings killed after motorcycle collides with lorry in Pontian

PONTIAN: Three siblings were killed when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a lorry on Jalan Parit Haji Sirat here at about 7am on Thursday.

The victims were an 18-year-old and his two younger siblings, aged 11 and eight.

Pontian district police chief Superintendent Hadzrat Hussein Mion Hussian confirmed the incident and said the case was still under investigation. Police would issue a statement on the matter shortly, he said.

Police have not detailed the cause of the collision, the position of the two vehicles beforehand or the status of the lorry driver.

Schools closed because of the haze

The crash happened on the first of two days on which all schools in Johor were closed, Oct 8 and 9, after air quality deteriorated because of the haze.

Early reports by several news portals said the three were believed to have been on their way to school, unaware of the closure order.

Sinar Harian reported that a school's security camera recorded the motorcycle arriving in front of the school before turning back towards home, after the children found the school closed.

Police have not confirmed whether the collision happened as they were heading to school or on the way back.

The family's account

The victims' mother, Julaiha Munaji, 43, said she had told her two younger children not to go to school because all schools in Johor were closed, according to Sinar Harian.

"I had already told them there was no need to go to school, but they insisted on going," she said.

Her 18-year-old son then took his two siblings to check on the school, which is about two kilometres from their home in Kampung Parit Haji Siraj, she said.

Julaiha said a passing motorist told her the motorcycle had been in a collision not far from their house.

"It was only 200 metres away," she said.

The report named the three as Nor Daniel Aiman, 18, Nor Daniel Fikri Norlizan, 11, and Puteri Naufal Raisya, eight. The names have not been confirmed by police.

All three were taken to Pontian Hospital.

Julaiha said her third child had often helped her by taking his younger siblings to school.

"Aiman was the quiet type, but he liked to joke around with me. They were all close," she said.

The police investigation is continuing.