Gerik:Four people, including a young girl, lost their lives in a three-vehicle collision on the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway, close to the Tasik Banding area.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a lorry driver, Khairul Anwar Abdul Manaf, who witnessed the incident, recounted that a young girl was found trapped beneath her mother's body in a Perodua Axia involved in the crash. Initially, the public believed only four individuals were in the car.

Khairul explained that they realized there was another victim when attempting to extricate a young boy. They discovered the little girl beneath her mother. Although she was initially moving, the girl went quiet and was later confirmed dead.

The young boy survived but suffered severe leg injuries, while the young girl appeared to have facial injuries. Khairul, driving the lorry involved in the crash, mentioned that he tried to avoid the Perodua Axia as it suddenly veered towards his vehicle despite other cars being around.

Following the collision, all bodies and the injured were transported to Taiping Hospital for post-mortem examinations and further treatment. Authorities are working to establish the identities of the victims.