BATU GAJAH: Five people died and three others were seriously injured in an accident involving two cars at KM16 of the Ipoh-Lumut road.

Batu Gajah OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Nasri Omar said that in the 3.30pm incident on Monday near Siputeh, a Toyota Vios and a Mercedes-Benz collided head-on.

The dead have been identified as the front passenger of the Mercedes Anita Abu Zarim, 46, a senior manager of UMW Oil and Gas from Bukit Jelutong in Shah Alam; and Leong Kok Chuen, 37, the driver of the Vios from Taman Mewah Fasa 2, Ipoh, and three of his passengers aged between 20 and 60, who are yet to be identified.

ACP Mohd Nasri said Anita's husband Radzlan Mohamed, 50, who was driving, sustained serious head injuries, while their two daughters Anisa Rizuana Radzlan,19, and Azra Rhea, 13, had serious injuries.

The injured have been brought to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, while the bodies were taken to Batu Gajah Hospital for post-mortem.

"The Mercedes from Ipoh was heading towards Seri Iskandar, when the Vios, which was overtaking another car, collided into it," ACP Mohd Nasri said.

Four of them died on the spot, while one of the passengers in the Vios, a 40-year-old man, died at the Batu Gajah Hospital.