Perak police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said they received information about the accident at about 1.45am and the 28-year-old man was detained to assist in further investigations under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

The five victims were identified as students of Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) in Kuala Kangsar who were returning after a holiday in Ipoh.

They were Muhammad Nasrun Aidol Munir Akbar, 22, who was driving the car, Ahmad Naim Najmi Ahmad Hafizan, 21, Muhammad Nabil Haikal Muhammad Fariz, 19, Ahmad Akmal Ahmad Mokhlis, 20, and Iqbal Hasnun Halimi, 23.

According to Mior, initial investigation found that the accident occurred when a trailer carrying mosaic tiles heading north was on the right lane as the left lane from Km246 to Km244.4 was closed for road maintenance.

“A car was following the trailer when the second trailer carrying metal fences, going in the same direction, could not brake in time and crashed into it

“The impact caused the car to hit the rear of the trailer ferrying mosaic tiles,” he said.

Mior said the car caught fire which spread to the trailer behind.

“The driver and four passengers in the car were trapped and did not have time to save themselves and were confirmed dead at the scene.

“Firefighters managed to remove all the victims before their remains were sent to the Kuala Kangsar Hospital for post-mortem,” he said.

‘Best students’

USAS vice-chancellor Nordin Kardi, who described the victims as the best students in the university, said USAS had informed the families about the incident.

“They were the best students and had just started their classes after the Aidilfitri holiday,” he said at the Kuala Kangsar Hospital forensic unit.

He said the university would help the families by providing accommodation and other necessities until the last rites were completed.