Tragedy struck a few days after Christmas when a family met with a car accident in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Though a mum and her 3-year-old daughter managed to get out of the car, the helpless woman could only stand by and watch, as the car was engulfed in flames.
Reports say the blaze started after the car collided with a trailer.
Helpless woman watches in horror
The accident happened along KM41 of the North-South Expressway near Kulai in the early hours of 27 December, Wednesday.
"Based on eyewitness accounts, the victim may have crashed into the back of a moving trailer before it caught fire," Kulai district police chief Superintendent Dzulkhairi Mokhtar told Yahoo news.
The man was pinned to the driver's seat and was unable to get out. His wife and their 3-year-old daughter were sitting at the back.
Bystanders managed to save the woman, who is in her 30s, and child. They could not however, help the 29-year-old man, who perished in the fire.
"When firefighters arrived at the scene, the car was entirely up in flames. It took us 45 minutes to extinguish the blaze," Kulai Fire and Rescue Department operation chief Azizan Aziz told New Straits Times.
Neither the mum nor her little girl were seriously injured. They were brought to Kulai Hospital after the accident.
We can't imagine what this mum and child must have gone through. Our hearts go out to them during this difficult time.
Similar cases worldwide
On 27 December in Florida, a car burst into flames after an accident, claiming the life of one person. A helpful bystander manage to pull one of the passengers to safety.
A month ago, 13 workers in Myanmar met an untimely end in a similar accident. After crashing into a truck, the van they were riding burst into flames. Reports suggest the driver fell asleep at the wheel. Around the same time, in Ireland, a man burned to death, despite efforts to rescue him.
Road safety for your family
Though tragic accidents happen almost daily around the world, there are ways to keep our families safer.
"Good samaritans" or helpful bystanders won't always be around, so it's best to always be prepared.
What to remember if you get in a car accident:
- Before travelling, make sure to pack a road assistance kit (first aid kit, flashlight, extra phone, extra clothes, seat belt cutter, flares or reflective triangles, etc.)
- In the event of an accident, stay calm.
- Stop the car and switch on your hazard lights.
- Exit the car as soon as possible.
- Call for help.
- Remove glass and dangerous objects from the road.
- Make sure that none of you are seriously injured. If there are serious injuries, call 995/999 immediately.
- Stay within the vicinity of the accident until help arrives.
- Administer first aid (if you have proper knowledge) before help arrives.
sources: New Straits Times, Yahoo.com, Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia
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