SUNGAI PETANI, June 8 — What began as a joyful family outing in a newly purchased sport utility vehicle (SUV) ended in tragedy when six family members, including a seven-year-old boy and a baby, were killed in a crash involving a lorry carrying a load of earth in Kampung Baru Pinang Tunggal here on Saturday.
The victims were travelling in a Proton X50 believed to have been collected by one of the family members on the day of the accident.
A three-year-old girl, identified as Aulia Sofea Ahmad Shafiq, was the sole survivor and suffered serious injuries. She is receiving treatment at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani.
Superintendent Fauzi Shuaib of the Tikam Batu Fire and Rescue Station said firefighters received an emergency call at 3.46 pm and rushed to the scene.
“The accident involved a lorry carrying 10 tonnes of earth and a Proton X50 carrying seven occupants, including a baby.
“Six victims were pronounced dead at the scene by Health Ministry personnel, while a three-year-old girl sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital,” he said in a statement.
The deceased were identified as Ahmad Shafiq Ahmad Shukri, 27; his wife, Jamaliah Sannusi, 27; Ahmad Shafiq’s younger brother, Ahmad Fahim Ahmad Shukri, 21; their mother, Nora Mhd Husin, 55; seven-year-old Iskandar Arfan Ibrahim; and a baby boy, Ahmad Mikail Ahmad Shafiq, aged two months.
According to family members, the group had stopped at a house in Bertam, Penang, earlier that day to pick up Iskandar before continuing their journey to Merbok, where they planned to visit the grave of Ahmad Shafiq and Ahmad Fahim’s late father.
Iskandar’s father, Ibrahim Ghazali, 39, said his son had been excited to ride in the new vehicle.
“At midday, they stopped by my house in Bertam Putra to pick up Iskandar. He was thrilled to ride in the new car owned by my brother-in-law, Ahmad Fahim.
“I was told they were on their way to visit my father-in-law’s grave in Merbok,” he said.
He recalled that Iskandar had immediately stopped eating and rushed to wash his hands when he saw his relatives arrive in the SUV.
That memory was echoed by Iskandar’s aunt, Norzamilah Ghazali, who said the boy’s excitement was evident when the family arrived at his father's home in Taman Bertam.
“At the time, he was eating. As soon as he saw them arrive, he washed his hands and rushed outside. Everyone in the vehicle was waiting for him,” she said when met at the Forensic Department of Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar.
Norzamilah said relatives from Bukit Mertajam had gathered earlier that afternoon to celebrate Ibrahim’s birthday before the family continued their journey.
About an hour later, they received devastating news of the crash.
“At first, I was informed that Nora had died. But when I was told that six people had been killed and only one had survived, I was completely shocked,” she said.
She added that Ahmad Fahim, who had recently completed his studies and was working at a supermarket in Penang, had purchased the Proton X50 on the same day.
“We never imagined the journey would end in tragedy and that they would leave us forever,” she said.
Meanwhile, dashcam footage circulating on social media appears to show the Proton X50 veering into the opposite lane while travelling along a straight stretch of road before colliding with the lorry.
Earlier, Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah visited the six victims at the Forensic Department of Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital to extend his condolences to the bereaved family.
