BATU PAHAT: A senior citizen killed alongside his wife and two grandchildren in a crash near Yong Peng yesterday made a final video call to his children moments after the accident.
The crash occurred at Km 107 of the North-South Expressway (southbound).
His eldest son, Mohd Zaharudin, 45, said his father, retired army personnel Ab Shukor Athan, 68, made a video call to the family WhatsApp group at 5.55pm to inform them they had been involved in an accident.
"We could only see his legs. Through the video call, my father asked us to return to our hometown in Kluang.
"Shortly after, an unknown woman answered the call and told us to be patient.
"At first, we thought it was just a minor accident. But the woman told us there were fatalities," he said when met at the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital (HSNI) Forensic Department today.
Zaharudin, a cook in Singapore, immediately returned to his home in Ulu Tiram, Johor Baru, to pick up other family members.
He said his brother-in-law, Jumie Julong, 35, and sister, Nor Hakimah Zakiah Ab Shukor, 32, had been driving his parents from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru.
He said it was supposed to be his turn yesterday to have his parents stay with his family in Ulu Tiram.
"I never expected that video call to be one of my last moments with my father.
"The last time I met my parents was two weeks ago. Distance made it difficult for us to get together.
"I had planned to take them out to eat today, but I did not get the chance. God called them first. It is heartbreaking, but we accept it," he said.
Ab Shukor, his wife Mariam Ibrahim, 65, and their two grandchildren, Nur Umie Zahiyah Jumie, 5, and Muhammad Zaharil Hakimie Jumie, 1, died in the crash.
All four suffered severe head injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.
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