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MALAYSIA - A church worker and his two young sons were burnt to death after their van crashed into another vehicle and caught fire near Parit Bunga, in Muar, Johor late Saturday.
Another son who suffered serious burns all over his body, died hours later at the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital.
Ong Duu Siong, 46 and sons Zhen Suai, seven, and Zhen Zhee, four, who were trapped in the burning vehicle, died on the spot.
Zhen Jie, three, died several hours later in the hospital.
Ong's wife Tan Yee King and their one-year-old son Zhen Li have been warded at the hospital.
Ledang police chief Supt Harun Idris said the accident happened when Ong, his wife and four sons were near Parit Bunga at about 11.30pm.
Ong, who worked in Calvary Church in Muar, was driving behind a Singapore-registered vehicle that reportedly swerved suddenly into the compound of a house.
Another car coming from the opposite direction, swerved to avoid crashing into the Singapore-registered car. It rammed into Ong's van causing it to burst into flames, Supt Harun said.
Police detained the driver of the Singapore-registered car and took urine samples from him to find out if he was under the influence of alcohol.
He has since been released on police bail.
Meanwhile, relatives who gathered at the hospital pleaded with reporters not to interview Tan as she was traumatised by the tragic deaths of her husband and sons.
Tan was sitting in the front passenger's seat with Zhen Li in her arms when the accident occurred, was reportedly screaming and shouting for her husband and sons before help arrived.
She held on to the baby and even at the hospital refused to let go off him.
Relatives said the victims' bodies would be cremated in their hometown of Malacca on Wednesday.
A family friend said Ong had given up his job as a salesman earning over RM10,000 a month to be a church worker with a salary of about RM2,000.
"He was very helpful and friendly. He just wanted to help the needy and concentrated in his missionary work," he said.
Ong's father said Ong and his family were supposed to return home on Chinese New Year.
"We had planned to take a family photo with everyone during the festival but it is impossible now," he said.
This was the second fatal accident reported at this accident-prone area as described by the locals, within 12 hours.
At 4.30pm on Saturday, 61-year-old Mislan Abu of Seremban, Negri Sembilan was seriously injured after he was rammed into by a car.
Mislan, who had attended a relative's wedding ceremony in Muar with his wife, was on his way home.
He had stopped by a roadside stall to buy some fruits but as he was walking back to his car, he was hit by a speeding car. Mislan died early Sunday.
