Eight people including a boy were injured in a five-vehicle pile-up at KM19 Jalan Endau-Mersing yesterday afternoon.

Mersing police chief Cyril Edward Nuing said the 6.45pm accident involved 16 victims aged between five and 55 years who were travelling in a Perodua Alza, Naza Citra, Perodua Kancil, Toyota Camry, as well as a lorry carrying fish.

He said the accident occurred when the Perodua Alza with its six family members including the boy suddenly skidded and went into the opposite lane.

“This caused the Perodua Alza, which was travelling from Endau to Mersing, town to collide with a Naza Citra and with a Perodua Kancil which was behind the Naza Citra.

“The Perodua Kancil then spun and collided with a Toyota Camry behind it, while the Perodua Alza which was now in its original lane collided with a lorry transporting fish,” he said in a statement today.

Nuing added that a Proton Saga and a Proton Satria travelling from Endau towards Mersing tried to avoid a collision after seeing the accident, but skidded to the left road shoulder.

However, both vehicles did not collide with each other not the five vehicles in the earlier accident, he said.

“Other than the boy who suffered hip injuries, others who were injured were the driver and a passenger in the Perodua Alza, the driver of the Naza Citra, the driver and three passengers in the Perodua Kancil,” he said.

All the victims were taken to the Mersing Hospital for treatment, and the case is being investigated under the Road Traffic Rules 1959 for careless driving leading to accident.

- Bernama