“Mom, it hurts so much”: daughter’s last call before fatal accident in Penang

In her final moments, 21-year-old Lee Zi Rou called her mother, screaming in pain after a cargo container fell on her car at a traffic light in Jalan Bukit Tengah in Penang.

“Mommy, it hurts so much!” Ms Lee said during the conversation, which ended in silence.

The tragedy occurred on the morning of November 13, 2024. Her mother, Mrs Lim, 42, said her daughter called at 9.24am but died just minutes later at 9.30am.

“I felt she had died,” Ms Lim said at her daughter’s wake, recalling the heartbreaking moment.

The fatal accident occurred when a tractor-trailer driver lost control of his vehicle while making a sharp turn.

The container toppled over, crushing Ms Lee’s car and injuring a 25-year-old man, identified as Tan Chou Theng, in a five-vehicle collision. Mr Tan was rescued by passers-by and rushed to hospital.

Ms Lim said she had told her daughters to only call in emergencies. When Ms Lee called, she immediately feared the worst.

In a desperate attempt to reach her again after the call dropped, Ms Lim enlisted her other daughter to drive to work via Ms Lee’s usual route.

A bystander eventually answered Ms Lee’s phone and informed Ms Lim of the location of the accident. “It was impossible for her to survive,” Ms Lim said through tears. “The container was too heavy.”

The incident has prompted an investigation under Section 41(1) of the Malaysian Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving.

The 51-year-old truck driver has been in pre-trial detention for four days. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined RM50,000 and disqualified from driving for up to 20 years.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke condemned the accident as “tragic and regrettable” and promised a comprehensive investigation.

He stated that the trailer company’s license would be suspended if it is found not to be complying with safety regulations.

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research has been tasked with determining whether technical problems or negligence in securing the container contributed to the accident.

Mr Loke also criticized the driver for an insensitive gesture during his court appearance where he made a peace sign to the media.

“This shows a lack of sympathy for the grieving family,” Loke said.

The incident has sparked public outrage, with netizens demanding stricter enforcement of road safety laws.

Many paid tribute to Ms Lee, a young woman whose life was tragically cut short, while others called for justice and accountability.

According to Deputy Commissioner Helmi Aris, police chief of Seberang Perai Tengah district, the driver’s urine tests were negative due to alcohol.

As Ms Lee’s family mourns her untimely death, Ms Lim expressed her devastation, saying: “I begged the bystanders to help save her, but it was too late.”

The accident highlights the urgent need for strict safety measures in Malaysia, especially for heavy vehicles, to prevent further tragedies on the roads.