Pendang car-trailer truck crash leaves teachers' children orphans

A husband and wife who were also teachers perished while their five children sustained serious injuries when their car collided with a trailer truck at Jalan Alor Punti, Pendang near here last night.

Pendang district police chief, DSP Fadzil Hashim said the dead victims had been identified as Mohd Padzil Rashid, 50, who was driving a Perodua Alza, and his wife, Masmiwaza Mohd. Noor, 42.

The five children are Masyitah, 12; twins Muhammad Asyraf, 11, and Muhammad Akmal; Munirah, 7, and Maisarah (age yet to be ascertained).

Mohd Padzil and Masmiwaza were teachers at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pendang and SMK Tobiar, respectively.

Fadzil said the incident happened around 11.30pm while the victims were heading home to Taman Setia, Pendang, from Titi Haji Idris.

"Their car is believed to have skidded and veered to the opposite lane before colliding with the trailer truck," he said when contacted.

He said Mohd Padzil died on the spot while his wife who was in the front passenger seat passed away on the way to hospital.

Meanwhile, the body has been sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital where the injured children are also being treated.

Meanwhile, Mohd Padzil's sister-in-law Norma Abdullah, 50, said the couple had planned to bring their children for a picnic in conjunction with the school holidays to the Ulu Legong recreation park in Baling.

Norma said she was told this when she went to their house last Thursday to deliver hijab headscarves that Maswimiwaza had ordered.

Met at the hospital,Norma said that she had asked them to join her for the trip to Ulu Legong yesterday but they could not make it as they had to attend a wedding reception Padang Perahu, Jitra.

Norma said that she was informed of the tragedy at 3.30am and immediately rushed to the hospital from Ulu Legong, Baling.

Maisarah, a Form Two student at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Kepala Batas, Penang fractured her right hand and is wearing a neck brace while Masyitah, a Year Six pupil at Sekolah Rendah Islam Pendang, suffered leg and neck injuries.

Twins Muhammad Asyraf and Muhammad Akmal, Year Five pupils at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanah Merah, Pendang are at the Intensive Care Unit, while Munirah, six, who sustained light injuries is warded at the children's ward.

Norma added that the families were deeply saddened by the tragedy and that their priority now was the children's recovery before discussing among themselves on their upbringing.

The remains of Mohd Padzil and Masmiwaza were laid to rest at the Muslim cemetery at Mohd Padzil's home village in Sanglang after the Asar prayers. -- Bernama