1 Driver Killed in Two-Lorry Crash on North-South Expressway Near Ayer Hitam — What Happened?

Quick answer: One lorry driver died after two lorries collided at KM 93.5 on the Ayer Hitam–Yong Peng section of the North-South Expressway (northbound) in Johor, Malaysia, on Tuesday 13 October 2026.

Key facts

• What: Two-lorry collision (road accident)
• Where: KM 93.5, Ayer Hitam–Yong Peng section, North-South Expressway (northbound), Johor, Malaysia
• Reported: 13 October 2026, via The Star
• Reported toll: 1 killed; the driver of the second lorry and an attendant were unharmed
• Status: confirmed by fire and rescue officials quoted in the original report

What happened

The collision involved a lorry carrying wooden pallets and a lorry transporting a skylift machine, also known as an aerial work platform. According to the Ayer Hitam Fire and Rescue Station chief quoted by The Star, the pallet-carrying lorry collided with the skylift lorry, and the pallet wood crushed the back of the lorry cabin.

The driver of the pallet lorry became trapped in the driver's seat. The Ayer Hitam Fire and Rescue Station received the emergency call at 4.05pm on Tuesday 13 October, and a response team arrived at the scene, about 21km away, at 4.27pm. Seventeen firefighters from the Ayer Hitam and Yong Peng stations were sent to the scene with a Fire Rapid Tender vehicle.

Rescuers used two cranes to lift the lorry cabin and a Power Resquetech Tool to free the trapped driver. The driver, Zuraimi Bahari, 50, was declared dead at the scene by a Health Ministry medical officer. Mohammad Nazri Basri, 36, the driver of the lorry transporting the skylift machine, and the attendant travelling with him were unharmed.

If you drive on routes like this

• Slow down in unfamiliar conditions: every 1% of extra speed raises fatal-crash risk about 4%
• Keep a safe following distance from heavy vehicles, especially on expressways
• Never assume the other vehicle sees you at night or in rain — drive as if it doesn't
• Wear the seatbelt in every seat; rear belts save lives in head-on impacts
• Know the local emergency number before you travel — our emergency numbers directory covers every country

What happens next

Police normally publish a confirmed casualty count within 24 to 48 hours once the injured are counted and victims identified. A crash investigation follows: vehicle condition, speed, driver hours and road condition. Where a commercial vehicle is involved, the operator's licence and maintenance records are examined. We update the Malaysia live page as new reports surface; the original outlet linked below will carry the confirmed figures first.

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New reports appear on our live world map as they surface — it refreshes every 15 minutes from multiple sources. Today's reports from every country are on accidents today; each day's confirmed reports are archived in the daily digest.

*This is a developing story compiled from verified reporting; figures may change as official information is released.*

Source: The Star — https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/13/driver-dies-in-two-lorry-collision-on-north-south-expressway-near-ayer-hitam. Live tracking: our world map updates every 15 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

How many people died in the Ayer Hitam lorry crash?

One person died: Zuraimi Bahari, 50, the driver of the lorry carrying wooden pallets. He was declared dead at the scene by a Health Ministry medical officer.

Where did the crash happen?

At KM 93.5 on the Ayer Hitam–Yong Peng section of the North-South Expressway, heading northbound, in Johor, Malaysia.

What caused the crash?

The original report does not state a confirmed cause. It reports that the pallet-carrying lorry collided with a lorry transporting a skylift machine, and that pallet wood crushed the back of the cabin. The cause has not been officially confirmed.

Was anyone else hurt?

No. The driver of the skylift lorry, Mohammad Nazri Basri, 36, and the attendant travelling with him were unharmed, according to the fire and rescue chief quoted by The Star.