A tragic incident occurred in Kota Tinggi, Johor on Tuesday (Feb 10), resulting in the untimely deaths of a 24-year-old mother and her baby after a head-on collision with a lorry.

According to Kota Tinggi district police chief Yusof Othman, the accident took place around 7.20pm at the 65km mark of Jalan Sungai Rengit. The mother, driving a car with five passengers, including her baby, veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a lorry traveling in the opposite direction.

The woman sustained severe head injuries and was tragically pronounced dead at the scene, while her three-month-old son, despite being rushed to the hospital, also succumbed to his injuries. The four other car passengers and the 60-year-old male lorry driver were also hospitalized.

An investigation is underway to determine if the accident was caused by reckless or dangerous driving. Malaysian news outlet Sinar Harian identified the mother-son duo as Nor Balqis Yazid and Mohd Bilal Asyraf.

Balqis' husband, Muhammad Asyraf Yatim, was visibly emotional as he held their son's body outside the hospital, expressing his heartbreak to reporters. Their two older children, aged four and eight, who were among the surviving passengers, remain hospitalized.

lim.kewei@asiaone.com