Lahad Datu fire and rescue station chief Sumsoa Rashid said the victims had been identified as the driver Mohamad Azizi, 28, and passengers Rasman Ahmat Kechil, 28, and Zulkhairi Ismail, 29.

“All the victims were trapped in the vehicle and were extricated by firefighters before being confirmed dead at the scene by medical personnel.

“The trailer driver, a 61-year-old man, sustained minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lahad Datu Hospital for further treatment,” he said when contacted by reporters today.

Sumsoa said a distress call about the accident was received at 8.52pm and a team of 12 firefighters, along with machinery and the emergency services assistance unit, was immediately dispatched to the scene, 30km from the station.

He said the bodies were handed over to the police for further action, and the operation concluded at 12.40am after confirming there were no further hazards at the scene.

In Ipoh, two men were killed after the four-wheel-drive vehicle they were traveling in crashed into a fertiliser-laden lorry at KM253 of the southbound North-South Expressway (PLUS) near Kuala Kangsar early this morning.

Perak fire and rescue department assistant operations director, Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad, said the 25-year-old driver and his 22-year-old passenger were trapped in the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.