KAJANG, Jan 16 — The families of the two 13-year-old schoolgirls who were killed in a crash caused by a lorry on Thursday are planning to take legal action against the developer involved in land clearing at a site near SMK Bandar Damai Perdana in Cheras.

Wong Siow Xuen and Lau Zi Yin, who were standing by the roadside in front of their school, died on the spot after one of the 40 vehicles the lorry had smashed into just moments before was sent crashing into them.

Wong’s mother Ng Chi Fen, 40, lambasted the developer for allowing heavy vehicles to drive past the school area.

“We demand an explanation. Why are lorries allowed to park by the roadside near the school?” she said, her eyes brimming with tears.

“No one has apologised or come forward to take responsibility over the accident. We are planning to sue the parties involved, specifically the developer,” she said at the Serdang Hospital yesterday. She was there to identify and claim Wong’s body.

Ng said she last saw her only child as she was getting ready for school on the day of the incident.

“She was a hard-working student and an obedient daughter. She had just applied for a passport as we were in the midst of planning a trip to Thailand after Chinese New Year.”

Ng said Wong and Lau were best friends since their primary school days.

“They love fried chicken and would buy it at the stall near their school daily.”

Lau’s father Wai Ting, 45, who was also at the mortuary, said he is contemplating legal action against the developer.

“I wish I had been hit instead of my daughter. I would do anything for her to be alive today,” he said.

“I want justice.”

Lau is the second of three siblings. Her elder sister Zi Wei, 16, said Lau and their father were very close.

“My dad is having a tough time accepting her death. He was up all night,” she said.

Zi Wei said she had an argument with her sister the night before the incident.

“I felt guilty about our tiff and we forgave each other in the morning. I made sure she was prepared for school.”

Their mother would usually send Zi Wei to school first before dropping Lau off at Wong’s home. The classmates would then walk to school together as they were in the afternoon session, said Zi Wei.

Zi Wei was walking out of the school compound when she saw a commotion on Thursday.

“Some students informed me about what happened. I went to the scene and saw my sister’s bag and shoes,” she said.

“I broke down and quickly called my parents.”

Both sisters worked as waitresses during their spare time as they wanted to save enough money to buy their mother a tablet.

“She was a good sister who loved sports. She loved to draw and wanted to be a fashion designer.”

“I have never witnessed such a horrible accident. I am traumatised. I do not want to study in that school anymore.”

Lin Cheong Sun, 46, a close friend of the Lau family, described the bond between the victim and her father as “unbreakable”.

“I just don’t understand how something like this could happened. I support the family’s decision to take legal action,” he said.