[UPDATED] Teen dies, five injured as car crashes into tree

BATU PAHAT: A 16-year-old teenager was killed while five others were injured after the car they were travelling in skidded and crashed into a tree near a surau in Kampung Jalan Baru, Simpang Lima, last night.

Batu Pahat fire and rescue station operations commander Zulmazi Ariffin said the department received a distress call at 10.16pm and dispatched 13 personnel to the scene along with two Emergency Medical Rescue Services units and a Fire Rescue Tender.

Upon arrival, the operation team found that the Proton Wira carrying six people had skidded and crashed into the tree.

"The victims comprised two adult men, two adult women and two boys. One of the victims, identified as Putera Muhaimin Qudrat Mohd Noor Wandi, 16, was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The five other victims, Puteri Nur Fairuza Balqis Mohd Noor Wandi, 15; Nor Azlan Shaharudin, 27; Putera Khairunas Mohd Noor Wandi, 11; Putera Aidin Firdaus Mohd Noor Wandi, three; and Rahmah A Rahim, 26; were injured and taken to hospital for treatment," he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Batu Pahat district police chief assistant commissioner Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said the accident happened at Km140 of Jalan Johor Baru-Melaka, near Bagan.

He preliminary investigations found that Putera Muhaimin Qudrat's uncle was driving the car, which was heading from Batu Pahat towards Parit Moin, Bagan.

"The driver's 16-year-old nephew sustained severe head and chest injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver suffered injuries to both legs and internal bleeding," he said in a statement.

He said the five injured victims were taken to Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital in Batu Pahat for treatment.

The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.