ALOR SETAR: A van driver was killed while 12 other passengers in the Nissan Vanette were injured after their vehicle crashed into an electric pole and plunged into a canal here in a pre-dawn accident on Sunday.

Kota Setar police chief ACP Mohd Rozi Jidin said the driver lost control of his van in the 3.07am incident at Batu 10 Jalan Alor Setar-Sungai Petani.

He said the family from Johor were heading to Pendang from Alor Setar, Kedah, when the mishap occurred.

“Initial investigations revealed that the van driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an electric pole before plunging into a canal along the road.

“The driver, Shafie Wahab, 54, was rushed to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah but died while receiving treatment,” he said in a statement here Sunday.

ACP Mohd Rozi said among the 12 passengers injured were Shafie’s four children – Mohamad Shahzuan, 17, Nur Suhana, 14, Mohamad Shahril, 13, and Nur Suhaila, 6.

Other passengers injured are Nor Khusaini Mad, 30, Suriati Faidi, 38, Mohamad Shaharuddin Abd Malek, 23, Nur Aisyah Fathiha Mohamad Taufik, 4, Abdul Shukor Ahamad, 49, Zainab Kasim, 47, Habsah, 27, and Siti Haisah, 23. – Bernama