The intention of a group of good samaritans to assist in an accident turned tragic when two of them were killed and three were seriously injured after a car hit them at the 10th km Jalan Johor Bahru-Air Hitam here, early this morning.

Those killed were S. Logess, 29, and R. Surendran (age not known) who worked in Singapore while the identities and information on the three seriously injured victims were not known.

Johor Bahru Utara District Police chief ACP Mohd Taib Ahmad said the group of men, who rode motorcycles, had stopped on the inner lane (fast lane) of the three-lane road to help the victims of an accident and to shift the vehicles involved.

However, a Proton Persona rammed into the group, before veering to the second lane and hitting another vehicle (travelling in the same direction).

"The bodies of the two victims were sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital here. The three seriously injured victims were also sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital for further treatments," he said in a statement here today.

No details were provided on the initial accident and the people involved and on the driver of the car rammed by the Proton Persona.

The 29-year-old suspect who drove the Proton Persona was reported to be slightly hurt and had been remanded from today to help in investigation.

-- BERNAMA