Rompin district police chief Azahari Mukhtar said the incident, which occurred at 8.50pm, involved a trailer and two cars.

He identified those killed as the trailer attendant, Abdul Raziz Mohdal, 40, from Segamat, Johor, the driver of one of the cars, Khairol Md Tahir, 36, and his rear seat passenger, Zairulzaimy Jambi, 18, both from Pekan.

“The accident was believed to have happened when Khairol, who was driving from Segamat, lost control of the wheel, causing his car to veer into the opposite lane. The car then collided with the trailer before crashing into another car,” he said in a statement today.

The bodies were taken to Hospital Muadzam Shah in Rompin for post mortem.

He said the lorry driver, two more men travelling with Khairol, and the driver of the second car suffered light injuries and were take to the same hospital for treatment.