Dashcam Owner Comes Forward to Assist Investigation into UPSI Bus Crash That Killed 15 Students

A dashcam owner whose vehicle was traveling near the scene of the tragic bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students earlier this morning has stepped forward to assist in the investigation.

Perak Police Chief, Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin, said police will be recording a statement from the owner of the now-viral dashcam footage, which is expected to provide key evidence in identifying the cause of the incident.

“Yes, the dashcam recording has been handed over to the police.

“Our investigation team will examine the footage thoroughly. We will also record a statement from the dashcam owner,” he told reporters outside the Forensic Department of Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) today.

He explained that the footage could help determine several critical aspects, such as the speed of the bus and the road conditions at the time of the crash.

“At this point, it’s the only dashcam footage we have. We’ll be taking the owner’s statement soon.

“The video clearly shows the bus was speeding, and the situation worsened when a metal guardrail pierced straight through the front of the vehicle.

“This is why the passengers seated on the left side of the bus were those who died — the rail went straight into their seats.

“Many of the injured passengers suffered injuries to their left shoulders after being thrown from the right side when the bus overturned,” he said.

Earlier, a 38-second video clip of the incident went viral, showing the bus speeding and attempting to overtake other vehicles before overturning and crashing into the rear of a Perodua Alza.

When asked about survivors’ claims that the bus was speeding and that they smelled something burning before the crash, Noor Hisam said police will take their statements as part of the investigation.

“We are aware of that information, but I cannot disclose details at this stage, as it may interfere with the ongoing investigation.

“All related statements will be recorded,” he added.

He also shared that he had visited the crash site and observed that the road was steep. The accident occurred around midnight, after rain, with poor visibility due to darkness.

“My initial observation showed no clear road markings and no signs — the area was in complete darkness.

“We are still investigating whether the crash was caused by human error or technical failure.

“All possible factors are being looked into. It was a very serious crash. The bus overturned and struck a metal barrier. Thankfully, it didn’t go over the edge, as there’s a ravine next to it.

“Most victims were found in the ditch beside the guardrail. The survivors managed to crawl out, while the deceased were mostly still trapped inside the bus,” he said.