A female student of a higher learning institution died a couple of hours after she was allegedly slashed by her boyfriend at Kilometre 228.2, North-South Highway near Bukit Gantang here, today.

Deputy Superintendent Police Chief Ismail Che Isa said the couple had allegedly quarreled in a dark-coloured car during the incident.

During the incident which occurred at approximately 12pm, the 19-year-old victim, a first year student of Universiti Teknologi Mara Permatang Pauh, had attempted to open the door of the car which was parked in the emergency lane.

The suspect, 25, was seen alighting the vehicle and tried to drag her to the road divider before he fled to the nearby woods.

According to Ismail, onlookers who had witnessed the incident had jumped in to help and nabbed the suspect.

The victim was brought to Kuala Kangsar Hospital and had been pronounced dead at 2pm.

Ismail added that police found a knife smeared with blood in the bushes at the scene.

The case has been classified under Section 302 of Penal Code as murder.