A teacher was killed and his five students seriously injured when the Perodua Alza car they were travelling in collided with a lorry at KM 91.3 Jalan Johor Bahru-Batu Pahat, Pontian, near here, today.

Pontian district police chief Supt Zakaria Abd Rahman identified the teacher as Abdul Razak Jamari, 42, of Sekolah Rendah Agama Bersepadu (SRAB) Benut, who died at the scene from serious injuries.

He said Abdul Razak, who was at the wheel of the Perodua Alza, was travelling with five students -- Muhammad Danish Asyraff Khairul, 6; Muhammad Fathuddin Zakaria,6; Khodijah Uliah Zakariah, 8; Muhammad Firas Alian Norsahidin, 6; and Muhammad Adi Syahmi Abdul Razak, 8, when the crash occurred at 7.30 am.

All the students were reported to be in critical condition and had been admitted to either the Pontian Hospital, Nora Ismail Hospital in Batu Pahat and Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru.

The crash occurred when the lorry, which was from Benut to Rengit, crashed into the Perodua Alza car while trying to avoid crashing into a vehicle which had come out from a junction on the right side of the road, he said when contacted here today.

Zakaria said according to witnesses, the lorry driver left the scene after the incident and police were tracing the lorry owner. --BERNAMA