Kampar police chief Nazri Daud said the vehicle, which was carrying eight people including the driver, was travelling from Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur.

“The vehicle’s tyre burst and this caused the driver to lose control and crash into the guardrail before it was steered back to the lane.

“A lorry then crashed into its back,” Utusan Malaysia quoted Nazri as saying.

He said three of the men died at the scene of the accident while another Bangladeshi sustained severe injuries. The car driver and three other passengers and the lorry driver escaped unharmed.

Nazri said the injured passenger was sent to Tapah Hospital for treatment, and the case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

Bernama reported that seven of the crash victims were plantation workers in Cameron Highlands.