A terrible accident on Malaysia’s East-West Highway near Gerik, a town close to the country’s northern border with Thailand, has left over 15 people dead. The tragic crash took place on the evening of Monday, June 9, 2025, when a bus filled with university students smashed into a minivan. Perak State Police Chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri explained that the students were heading back to their university after enjoying an Islamic public holiday over the weekend. The sudden and violent collision shocked everyone, and emergency teams rushed to the scene to help those who were hurt and to figure out what caused such a devastating event.
According to early police reports, the bus lost control for reasons that are still unclear and crashed into the back of the minivan. The impact was so severe that 13 people died instantly at the scene, and two others passed away later while doctors tried to save them in nearby hospitals.
The bus was carrying 14 students from Sultan Idris Education University, all thought to be between 21 and 23 years old, along with a bus attendant who also died in the crash. Some passengers were able to climb out of the wreckage on their own, but others were thrown from the vehicles or trapped inside, making the rescue efforts heartbreaking and difficult for everyone involved.
The crash injured 33 people in total, and seven of them are still in critical condition, fighting for their lives in hospitals. Pictures from the accident site, published by Daily Express Malaysia, showed just how bad the damage was. The green university bus had flipped over onto its side, with its back end crushed, while the red minivan had skidded into a ditch by the road, its windows smashed to pieces. These images have left people across Malaysia shaken, as they show the chaos and destruction caused by the collision. Rescue workers had to work quickly to free those who were trapped and provide medical care to the injured, all while dealing with the emotional weight of the tragedy.
Police have started a detailed investigation to find out exactly what caused the accident. They are looking into whether the bus driver made a mistake, such as driving too fast or being distracted, or if something was wrong with the bus itself, like faulty brakes or tires. The goal is to understand what went wrong so that families can get answers and steps can be taken to prevent similar accidents in the future. This crash has brought attention to the dangers on Malaysia’s highways, especially during busy times like public holidays when many people are traveling. There are growing calls for better road safety rules, regular checks on buses and other vehicles, and more training for drivers to keep passengers safe.
This heartbreaking event has left a deep impact on the families of the victims, the university community, and people across Malaysia. The loss of so many young students, who were just starting their lives, has sparked grief and sadness nationwide. As the investigation moves forward, people are waiting for more information about what caused the crash and how it could have been avoided. For now, the focus is on supporting those who are injured, remembering those who were lost, and working to make Malaysia’s roads safer so that tragedies like this one don’t happen again.