Ahmad Nasal Abd Rahman, 52, a teacher from Kuala Terengganu was devastated when a burst tire on the MPV he was driving caused for him to lose control of the vehicle, with the resulting accident costing the lives of six family members.
The family of 10 were traveling on Sunday to Terengganu for a holiday from Pahang, where they had attended an aqiqah ceremony in Felda Jengka.
A burst tyre caused his Ahmad Nasal's car to become uncontrollable, and the vehicle swayed and spun before crashing into a divider and ramming into the pillar of an overhead bridge.
Ahmad Nasal’s wife Mahani Ngah, 42, daughter Quratulnisa, 11, son Ahmad Nijat, nine, elder brother Ahmad Razif, 63, sister-in-law Pauziyah Awang, 56, and Ahmad Razif’s granddaughter Sofea Adriana Shahruddin, seven, did not survive the crash, which occurred at the 287th kilometre near the Chukai toll exit of the East Coast Expressway.
His three other children – Quratul Ain, 14, Ahmad Shakir, 12, and Ahmad Mukriz, three – were badly injured and have been sent to Kemaman Hospital for treatment.
Ahmad Nasal suffered minor injuries.
They were all later transferred to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital.
The traumatised teacher recounts that while he managed to apologise to his wife for the accident before she passed, he still sees the faces of his dead family members each time he closed his eyes.
“I wish I could go back in time. This is an episode I will never be able to forget,” he said.
But he says that he would pull himself together for the sake of his other children, who have yet to be informed of the deaths of their mother and siblings.
“They still do not know about the deaths.
“They have asked about their whereabouts but all I told them was their mother and two siblings were still at the Kemaman Hospital.
“We have also informed other relatives and the nurses to keep this a secret.
“It is going to be difficult but we all have to be prepared for the worst and at the same time, move forward.
“Things are not going to be easy for us and I will now give them the love of a father and a mother,” he said.
All six victims have been laid to rest and Ahmad Nasal hopes that the family would not be disturbed in this difficult time.
Source: The Star