KUALA LUMPUR – The Perak State Health Department (JKNP) has clarified that a delay in ambulance response during a fatal road accident in Jelapang last week was caused by inaccurate location information provided during the emergency call.
The incident, which occurred on February 10, resulted in the tragic death of a three-year-old girl and left several others injured.
According to a statement released by JKNP via Facebook, the Emergency Medical Coordination Centre (MECC) received a distress call at 3:05 PM. An ambulance from Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) was immediately dispatched to the reported location, which was initially identified as a residential area near Puncak Jelapang.
However, upon arrival, medical teams found no signs of an accident. It was only after a follow-up call to the informant that the actual site was identified as the Ipoh-Lumut Highway heading toward Jelapang—approximately eight kilometers away from the initial reported spot.
The ambulance reached the correct scene at 3:55 PM. Medical officers immediately performed resuscitation on a three-year-old girl who was found unconscious. Her mother, 33, sustained serious injuries.
“Both victims were rushed to the HRPB Emergency and Trauma Department, with active resuscitation efforts continued for the child throughout the journey,” the statement read. Despite these efforts, the young girl was later confirmed dead.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that the crash occurred when a Perodua Kelisa driven by the woman suddenly lost control and veered into the opposite lane. This led to a head-on collision with a Honda Civic police patrol vehicle traveling from Lumut to Jelapang.
The collision also injured two police officers, aged 42 and 48. Their injuries included leg trauma, a fractured left shoulder, and facial lacerations.
Authorities have reminded the public to provide precise landmarks or GPS coordinates when reporting emergencies to ensure life-saving services can reach victims without unnecessary delays.
