Bentong police chief Zaiham Kahar said they were the driver of one of the cars, Wong Kean Yeap, 29, his sister, Hwee Moon, 34, and their mother, Lee Lai Cheng, 61.

He said the other three passengers in the car – a 33-year-old man, a five-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl – sustained injuries and were taken to Bentong Hospital for treatment.

The Pahang fire and rescue department said a five-tonne lorry and four vehicles were involved in the accident which took place near Kampung Lentang, Bentong, at 4.55pm.

The 29-year-old lorry driver was also injured, while the drivers and passengers of the other three vehicles escaped unhurt.

“An initial investigation found that the accident occurred when the lorry, travelling from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur, skidded, struck the road divider and veered into the opposite lane, colliding with the four vehicles,” he said in a statement last night.

Zaiham case the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

He urged any witnesses to come forward to assist in the investigation.