The crash, which occurred at 2.40pm, involved a Proton Iswara carrying the boy and seven other family members, and the trailer with its 28-year-old driver.

Muar police chief Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said they received a report on the incident from a witness at 3.44pm.

He said preliminary investigations found that the accident occurred when the trailer driver allegedly fell into a “microsleep”, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, Berita Harian reported.

“The trailer then veered to the right and collided with the highway guardrail, and the car, which was heading in the same direction, crashed into it.

“As a result of the collision, the child suffered severe injuries and died at the scene, while the seven other victims were taken to Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital for further treatment,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Raiz said the trailer driver sustained minor injuries and would be brought to the magistrates’ court in Muar for a remand order.

The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.