SIMPANG RENGGAM, Dec 20 — Two men were seriously injured after an express bus and van crashed into their Proton Persona on the North-South Expressway (NSE) here today.

The collision pinned the car to the metal railguard along Kilometre 43.7 (northbound) of the highway.

The two injured were not named but are said to be aged 39 and 44.

They were rushed to the Temenggong Seri Maharaja Tun Ibrahim Hospital in Kulai for medical treatment and are reported to be stable.

The drivers of the Hino express bus and Toyota Hiace van, aged 36 and 25, escaped unscathed in the 8.45am collision.

There were no passengers in the express bus at the time of incident.

Fire and Rescue Department operation commander Maznan Mohamad said two fire engines and a Emergency Medical Rescue Services vehicle from the Renggam and Kulai fire stations were immediately despatched to the scene shortly after receiving a distress call on the accident.

He said a total of 14 firemen from the two fire stations took part in the operation.

"Upon arrival at the scene, the operation team found that there were two injured men in the Proton Persona car who were stuck as the car was also pinned to the metal railing.

"The operation team then acted to free and retrieve the victims by using special rescue equipment.

"The victims were then handed over to the Health Ministry’s paramedic personnel for further action,” Maznan said in a statement.

He added that the operation ended after the highway was cleared and the situation was safe for motorists.

The road collision also created a massive 5km traffic congestion along the northbound side of the NSE near here.