UPSI bus tragedy: Unopened ketupat, rendang and students covered in blood found on highway
The food was believed to be brought by the students as part of their supplies for the trip back to campus in Tanjung Malim after celebrating Hari Raya Aidiladha.
SHAH ALAM - Packets of rendang and ketupat were found scattered inside the bus that crashed and killed 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students on the East-West Highway between Gerik and Jeli on Monday.
The food was believed to be brought by the students as part of their supplies for the trip back to campus in Tanjung Malim after celebrating Hari Raya Aidiladha.
A visit to the crash site also revealed personal belongings of the students, including sports shoes, pillows, stuffed toys, banknotes and clothing some of which were stained with blood.
Even more heartbreaking were the fresh bloodstains on the bus’ floor, walls and the mangled road divider, reflecting the severity of the impact that resulted in the deaths.
The collision with a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle caused the bus to lose control, overturn and pierce through the road divider.
Vehicle debris was also seen scattered across nearby bushes and drains.
Road user Rosmaizul Mustapha shared the heartbreaking moment after witnessing victims of the bus crash.
He was passing by the scene not long after the crash.
He said the sight was deeply distressing as the victims appeared weak and helpless.
"I passed by at around 1.30. On the left side, there were students covered in blood. Some were sitting, some were standing and others were lying down.
"On the right, I saw someone sitting while cradling a small child," he said in a Facebook post.
The bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was said to be travelling from Jerteh, Terengganu to the campus when it lost control and overturned at the crash site.
It was reported that the incident which happened at around 1am killed 15 of the students, while the others were injured and received treatment at Gerik Hospital and Baling Hospital in Kedah.
Earlier, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir described the accident as one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in the institution’s history.
Rescue operations involving the Fire and Rescue Department, police and several other agencies were immediately carried out upon receiving the emergency call.
Authorities were currently investigating the cause of the crash and working to confirm the identities of all the victims involved.
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