JOHOR BARU, Feb 18 ― One of the injured victims in the cycling mishap at Jalan Lingkaran Dalam here early today claimed that the driver of the car involved in the incident was driving fast and seen using a mobile phone.
Muhammad Zulfadli Yusri, 19, said the incident happened too fast but he could clearly see the car, driven by a woman, coming towards his cycling group while they gathered by the roadside.
“My friends and I stopped at the roadside for about 10 minutes. Suddenly, I saw a car coming fast (towards us)...In fact, I really couldn't do anything or avoid (the car).
“When I came to, I was seated and felt the pain on my limbs,” he told reporters after receiving a visit from Johor Education Department director Shaharudin Sharif at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital here today.
The painter, who sustained fracture on his right leg, said following the impact, he could see some of the victims were lying on the ground including those who died.
Muhammad Zulfadli, who had been active in the night cycling activity over the past two years, said he was cycling from his house in Stulang Baru here before he met another group at the scene.
“I'm grateful for having survived (the incident)...As for now, I'm waiting for the doctor to perform a surgery on my right calf,” he said.
Echoing the same was another victim, Muhamad Farhan Che Mat, 16, from Taman Desa Cemerlang who also saw the car was speeding.
“I was waiting for my friend at the scene. I couldn't avoid the car too. Some people helped me shortly after (the impact) but I was already lying on the ground,” he said, adding that he sustained a broken right limb and wounds on his left leg.
The school dropout, who is into cycling activity since the age of 12, said he often joined the group to cycle to Dataran Bandaraya Johor Baru every Friday.
“I live with my parents and left home about 11pm last night on a bicycle which I had borrowed from a friend,” said Muhamad Farhan.
In the 3am incident, eight teenagers on bicycles were killed, two are in critical condition and six are wounded.
Besides Muhammad Zulfadli and Muhamad Farhan, the other four victims were Mohammad Arasshat Abdullah, 14; Mohd Abdul Samad Abdul Kadir, 16; Muhammad Arif Salman, 15; and Muhammad Fitri Muhammad Fatoni, 17. ― Bernama
