SHAH ALAM – As the country grapples with the tragedy that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, attention has also turned to another family involved in the fatal accident - the occupants of the Perodua Alza that was struck from behind by the students’ bus.
The Alza driver, Mohd Lutfi Radzi, 37, a school teacher from Kedah, was travelling home with his wife, Nurul Ain Zakaria, 36 and their two children - Nur Aisyah Nafishah, 6 and Muhammad Ahsan Nafis, 2 - after spending the Aidiladha holiday with relatives in Terengganu.
Their journey ended in horror when the chartered bus collided with the rear of their vehicle along the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, causing it to spin off into a ditch.
Injuries and Recovery
Lutfi sustained minor injuries but remains in Baling Hospital to care for his family. His wife suffered more serious trauma, with five fractured ribs and difficulty breathing, while their daughter fractured her right thigh.
Their youngest child, a two-year-old son, miraculously escaped serious injury despite reportedly being thrown from the vehicle during the impact. He has since undergone precautionary X-rays and was found to be unharmed.
Lutfi and his son were allowed to return home yesterday but they were still in the ward to accompany Ain and the eldest child who were still being treated.
The mother and daughter were placed in the same ward to facilitate monitoring.
A Mother's Anguish
Speaking from their home in Kampung Pondok Ustaz Bakar, Lutfi’s mother, Norlian Abd Halim, 58, expressed relief that her son and his family survived.
"I saw the video of the crash but could not bring myself to watch it all. It was too painful. I am grateful they are alive. I just hope they recover quickly,” she said.
She added that the family had been on the road home to Kedah when the crash occurred and had spoken to Lutfi around 8.30am on Monday after missed calls earlier in the morning.
The Moment of Impact
Kedah Health and Local Government Committee chairman Mansor Zakaria, who visited the family in hospital, said Lutfi recounted the moments before the accident.
"He said that their car was in front of the bus and was hit from behind, causing the car to spin several times before falling into a ditch on the left side of the road.
"On the right side of the road is a ravine and he assumed the bus was moving fast," said Mansor.
The Bigger Picture
The accident, which occurred on June 10, left 15 UPSI students dead and dozens more injured.
The tragedy has sparked renewed scrutiny of bus safety and road governance in Malaysia.