18-year-old Electrocuted To Death On Express Bus Whilst Charging Phone

An 18-year-old passenger was found electrocuted to death on board an express bus in Penang recently. (Image: Bernama)

In a bizarre and tragic incident, an 18-year-old passenger was found dead on an express bus in Penang Sentral, Penang on Nov 1. The teen’s death was reportedly caused by fatal electrocution whilst charging a smartphone on board said express bus.

Initial reports indicate that the passenger was electrocuted whilst attempting to charge a smartphone using one of the power sockets present aboard said express bus – a common feature in most passenger-ferrying express busses as such.

Seberang Perai Utara District police had reportedly found the victim dead at 6:10PM in his seat aboard the express bus. Initial post-mortem also revealed burn marks on the victim’s left fingers and confirmed the victim’s cause of death to be from fatal electrocution. Additionally, the cable used by the victim recovered by police was also melted and the phone involved was also hot.

MOT has suspended operations of the express bus linked in this incident whilst investigation is being carried out by a special task force led by the SPAD, JPJ and MIROS.

Following which, Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke has ordered an immediate investigation of the incident by the land public transport commission (SPAD).

Loke also revealed that a special task force involving investigators from the road transport department (JPJ), SPAD, as well as the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) was established to investigate this incident.

“The task force has been set up to investigate the cause of the incident to prevent such future occurrences and ensure passenger safety. I extend my deepest condolences to the boy’s family,” added Loke.

Moreover, MOT has also immediately suspended  operations of the express bus linked to this incident whilst the investigation takes place.

Source: Bernama, The Malay Mail