Kangar police chief Yusharifuddin Yusop said Arshad Hanapiah, 73, a rear seat passenger in the van, died at the scene in the 4.30am accident.

The group, consisting of family members, was travelling from Alor Setar to Kangar, with plans to continue to the Padang Besar Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex before heading to Krabi, Thailand, for a holiday.

Yusharifuddin said the van, driven by Syamel Morad, 29, veered off the road and struck a tree on the left shoulder.

The driver and six passengers -two men and four women, aged between 11 and 73 – sustained injuries.

The accident occurred at a dark spot while it was raining heavily, making the road slippery, Yusharifuddin said.

The injured were treated at the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital.