Acting Kuantan police chief Adli Mat Daud said the crash, which occurred at about 7.30pm, resulted in the death of the driver, Sabber Hasan, 30, and two passengers, Jahid Hasan, 21, and Abdullah, 24, at the scene.

He said an initial investigation found that they were travelling from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur, when the driver was believed to have lost control of the vehicle, causing it to skid to the left side of the road.

The two injured passengers, Habib Bissas, 45, and Maniram Chandra Bas, 40, were sent to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here for treatment, he said in a statement.

Adli also said the initial investigation found that the driver did not have a valid driving licence, and that the vehicle’s road tax had expired last May.

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