SIXTEEN unsettled summonses

BOTH "protagonists" in the RapidKL bus crash at Jalan Pantai Baru - which seriously injured six passengers
on Tuesday - had unsettled summonses.

The 36-year-old bus driver had 13 summonses - "mostly for speeding", said investigating officer ASP Rizal Abd Rahman Sidek.

However, the bus driver had also raised the possibility that some of the summonses should not be against  him.

"He claimed to have sold off his car, but had not done the ownership change."

The driver, from Terengganu, has been driving for RapidKL since 2005. On the other hand, the 24-year-old driver of the Proton Satria, had three unsettled summonses.

Rizal said after statements were taken, both drivers were released on bail.

"We are waiting for all passengers to come forward to provide statements for our investigations and we also
welcome other witnesses who saw what happened."

The car driver, was reported to be in a "duel", racing sideby-side with the U80 Rapid-KL bus up the exit ramp just moments before the bus, carrying 28 people, crashed into the road barrier and plunged off the ramp.

The Proton Satria crashed into a lamp post. There were large graze marks on the side of the car, which indicated that the bus collided with the car before the plunge.

FLASHBACK: Our report yesterday

Rizal said blood and urine samples of both drivers had been sent to the lab and both vehicles are being held while inspections take place.

He added that the case has been reclassified under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987, for reckless and dangerous driving - a heavier offence than the previous one under Section 43 for careless and inconsiderate driving.

Yesterday, bus driver Yusri Othman claimed he was intimidated by the driver of the Proton Satria who "refused to allow me to overtake him, and kept on speeding. I needed to get to the left lane and my signal lights were flashing to indicate that I intended to go left".

However, Proton Satria driver Nabil Fikri Arshad, 24, of Pantai Dalam, said the bus tried to cut into his lane from the right and was going very fast.

Click