KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — A suspected migrant smuggling run ended in a dramatic crash after a BMW driver allegedly fled a police roadblock and slammed into a roadside water tank near Padang Tengku in Lipis. Three passengers fled the wreck and remain on the run.

Police believe the 45-year-old was transporting five Myanmar nationals from Kelantan to Kuala Lumpur when he refused to stop for inspection at the roadblock at about 4.30pm yesterday along the Lipis-Merapoh road.

According to Lipis district police chief Superintendent Ismail Man, the driver accelerated away instead of stopping when ordered to do so.

“About five kilometres from the roadblock, the car skidded before crashing into a water tank in front of a roadside eatery.

“As a result of the crash, the driver and two female Myanmar nationals sustained injuries and were successfully arrested by police,” he said in a statement today.

Authorities said the three other Myanmar nationals — two men and one woman — managed to flee immediately after the crash and remain at large.

Police are continuing efforts to trace the trio.

Further checks found that the two Myanmar women arrested did not possess valid travel documents.

“Further checks found that the two Myanmar women who were arrested did not possess valid travel documents,” Ismail said.

The case is being investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, Section 186 of the Penal Code, Sections 55E and 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Police urged anyone with information about the crash or the whereabouts of the three Myanmar nationals still at large to come forward as investigations continue.