KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — The driver of the lorry that the Toyota Alphard carrying Karpal Singh rammed into early this morning said he was unaware that it was the Bukit Gelugor MP in the vehicle.

According to Malay daily Sinar Harian, Abu Mansor Mohd said he only knew much later that one of the victims inside the MPV was Karpal when some drivers stopped to inform him.

“I did not realise it was Karpal. When I realised it was him, he was unconscious and a part of his face was covered in blood,” the 45-year-old was quoted as saying.

Karpal was killed after the Toyota Alphard MPV he was travelling in crashed following a collision with a lorry along the North-South Highway near Gopeng, Perak at about 1.10am.

He was believed to be travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang for a court hearing this morning.

Karpal, who was seated in the front passenger seat, was killed on the spot together with his long-time assistant, Michael Cornelius.

According to details of a police investigation report into the deadly crash from this morning, the multi-purpose vehicle in which the Bukit Gelugor MP and three others were travelling was approaching a crest on the road on clear night when it skidded and collided with a Mitsubishi Canter.

The collision ripped open the left side of the MPV where Karpal and Michael are believed to have been seated, and caused injuries that killed both on the spot.

Karpal’s son, Ramkarpal Singh, sustained injuries.

Born in Penang on June 28, 1940, Karpal graduated with a law degree from the University of Singapore and joined the DAP in 1970.

He ran for Parliament in the 1978 general election and won the federal seat for Jelutong, which he held for five terms and which also earned him the moniker, “Tiger of Jelutong”.

Karpal leaves behind a wife, five children and four grandchildren.