Pekan: Three people, including a doctor, were killed while six others sustained injuries in a three-vehicle crash at Kilometre 67 of Jalan Kuantan-Segamat near Pekan.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pekan district police chief Supt Mohd Zaidi Mat Zain stated that two drivers were killed on the spot in the 6 pm crash. The deceased were identified as Dr Mohamad Zekry Zuhairy Mohd Atan, 33, of Segamat Hospital, Johor, and Azaharuddin Mohd Ali, 46, a senior officer with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) in Cyberjaya, Selangor. Additionally, Dr Mohamad Zekry Zuhairy's two-year-old daughter, Dhea Sofia, succumbed to her injuries while being treated at the Chini Health Clinic.

Mohd Zaidi explained that initial investigations indicated the vehicles driven by the medical officer and the LHDN officer were traveling from Segamat towards Kuantan when the incident occurred. 'Upon arrival at the scene, a pickup truck traveling from Kuantan towards Muadzam Shah was believed to have tried to overtake a lorry, hit a puddle, and lost control before swerving into the opposite lane and crashing into the two vehicles,' he said in a statement.

The crash also resulted in injuries to three family members of Dr Mohamad Zekry Zuhairy, including his wife, mother-in-law, and father-in-law. Other injured individuals included passengers in the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), namely Azaharuddin's wife and son, as well as the 31-year-old pickup driver. Mohd Zaidi confirmed that all injured victims were receiving treatment at Pekan Hospital.

'The bodies of the victims killed in the crash were also sent to the same hospital for a post-mortem,' he added, noting that the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.