"Traffic Was Slow Before The Tanker Struck": Horrific 11-Vehicle LPT1 Crash Claims 4 Lives Near Temerloh

A late-night journey turned into an unimaginable heartbreak on Monday when an out-of-control cement tanker slammed into slow-moving traffic on the East Coast Expressway 1 (LPT1).

The horrific 11-vehicle pile-up near the Temerloh exit claimed the lives of four people, including a young family of three who owned a beloved local bakery in Kuantan, and a 55-year-old father traveling with his son.

A Cement Tanker Lost Control In Slow Traffic

According to preliminary investigations by Pahang Police, the crash occurred at approximately 10:55 PM at KM110 of LPT1 eastbound, near Lanchang as vehicles were heading toward Kuantan.

Traffic along the stretch had slowed down when a cement tanker traveling in the same direction lost control. Unable to stop in time, the heavy vehicle crashed into the queue of vehicles ahead.

The violent impact triggered a massive chain-reaction collision involving 11 vehicles in total:

• Heavy & Commercial Vehicles: 1 cement tanker truck and 1 express bus carrying 30 passengers.
• Passenger Vehicles: 9 vehicles, including a Proton S70, a Honda CR-V, a Toyota Alphard, a Toyota Hilux, two Proton Sagas, two Perodua Myvis, and a Perodua Aruz.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) operations assistant director Mohd Salahuddin Isa confirmed that emergency teams rushed to the scene after receiving a call at 10:44 PM. Firefighters took over an hour to extricate four victims who were severely pinned inside two wrecked vehicles.

A Young Kuantan Family Wiped Out In Seconds

The tragedy hit the Pahang food community particularly hard as details of the deceased emerged.

Among those killed were Nur Atiqah Sofiya Mohd Kazwan, 32, her husband Muhammad Nazatullah Nazmi, 32, and their 4-year-old son. All three were traveling in a Proton S70 when the collision occurred.

Nur Atiqah Sofiya was the founder and baker behind Secangkir Cafe in Sungai Karang, Kuantan.

The fourth casualty was identified as Seow Beng Wain, 55, from Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, who was riding in a Honda CR-V. His 18-year-old son, Sebastian Seow Jhen, who was driving the vehicle, suffered severe injuries and is receiving emergency medical care.

Miraculously, all 30 passengers on board the express bus escaped without injuries. The 52-year-old cement tanker driver sustained serious injuries and is currently admitted to Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (HoSHAS) in Temerloh alongside other injured victims.

"She Made My Husband's Birthday Cake": Heartfelt Tributes Flood Social Media

As news of the crash spread, regular customers, friends, and local residents took to social media to express shock and grief over the loss of the Secangkir Cafe founders.

Many remembered Sofiya for her friendly nature and celebrated bakes like her signature Victoria Sandwich and Butter Teok.

"Al-Fatihah for Sofiya, her husband, and their little boy. We were just regular customers, but this breaks my heart. We just messaged yesterday because I wanted to drop by for her butter teok. She once made my husband's birthday cake... she was so kind, Masya-Allah," shared Threads user Runsyuhada.

Another customer, Gegulapop, shared a photo of a cake ordered from the bakery:

"Just placed an order with the owner last week. Ya Allah, I really can't believe this."

Police Open Investigation Under Road Transport Act

Acting Pahang Police Chief Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob confirmed that the case is being actively investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

All four bodies were sent to the HoSHAS Forensic Department for post-mortem examinations.