UPDATE, 6:50pm: IPD Timur Laut and RapidBus have released statements on the case, and the article has been updated accordingly.
A 17-year-old student, Jason Lee died on the spot after being run over by a bus along Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway yesterday (13 Nov) morning.
He was riding home after buying food when the collision happened.
His parents are calling for accountability and hope the bus driver will come forward.
Mother says bus was speeding
Jason’s mother, Liu Qing Li (translated name, 52), broke down when recalling how her son died.
She told Sin Chew Daily that the bus should not have been speeding, especially when her son’s motorcycle was nearby.
I don’t believe my son crashed into the bus. But no matter who is at fault, my child is already gone,” she said.
She also believes the bus driver should not have left the scene after the crash.
Father: lack of motorcycle lane
Jason’s father, Lee Zhen Zheng (47), said his son used the dedicated motorcycle lane along the expressway daily.
However, due to ongoing LRT works, the lane had been closed.
This forced motorcyclists to ride on the main road.
He said proper motorcycle lanes are important as they reduce accident risks.
There were reports saying my son is the first fatality since the lane was closed. I hope there won’t be a second or third,” he added.
Bus reportedly travelling fast
The father claimed the bus was travelling at high speed during the crash, which caused the wheels to run over Jason’s body.
He urged the bus driver to visit the wake and pay respects to his son.
At this point, arguing about who is right or wrong is meaningless. My son cannot come back,” he said.
UPDATE, 6:24pm: Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd northern region head Mohd Amir Abdul Halim along with several staff members, visited the Batu Lanchang Funeral Parlour to pay respects to the victim and offer condolences to his family.
Mohamad Amir, on behalf of the company, expressed sympathy and apologies to the family. He also handed over his business card and told them they could contact him directly if they needed any assistance in the future.
Investigation ongoing
In a statement by IPD Timur Laut, the victim, Jason was riding from Gat Lebuh Macallum towards his home in Summer Place, Persiaran Karpal Singh when the accident occurred around 11.00 am.
Initial investigations found that the victim changed lanes and collided with the side of a moving Rapid Penang bus in the left lane, near the flyover in front of the Mutiara Line LRT construction site,” it wrote.
The impact caused severe injuries to the head and neck, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem conducted at Penang Hospital confirmed the cause of death was consistent with trauma from a road traffic collision.
The case is currently being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which deals with causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
Rapid Bus: Safety is our top priority
Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, the operator of the Route 303 service (Weld Quay Terminal – Bukit Gedung), also released a statement confirming the incident.
They stated that all passengers and the bus captain were unharmed, and that the company views safety very seriously.
“Rapid Bus stated it takes such incidents seriously and is currently conducting an internal investigation,” it wrote.
The company also pledged full cooperation with the authorities.
Family to lodge report after funeral
The mother said many online comments suggested Jason crashed the bus, but she does not believe these claims.
The family has not lodged a police report yet.
They plan to do so after completing the funeral arrangements.
His passing was too sudden. Right now, we just want him to rest peacefully,” she told the Chinese Daily.
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