Driver blames Waze after tour bus wedges under bridge with 30 aboard in Butterworth

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — An over 30-strong tour bus travelling from Johor came to an unexpected halt under a low-clearance flyover in Butterworth, Penang, last night due to the driver following directions from the Waze navigation app, according to local reports. The mishap saw nearly half of the vehicle trapped beneath the structure, shattering several windows and scattering shards of glass across the road.

Two passengers sustained minor injuries from the flying glass but were later reported to be in stable condition, as per Berita Harian. The driver explained that he was en route to a nearby hotel before proceeding to Kedah, stating that the Waze app had routed him along the same road without considering the overhead bridge's height limit.

"I heard a loud crashing sound while driving underneath the flyover. A few seconds later, the bus windows shattered and glass fragments were scattered everywhere," the driver recounted, expressing his shock at the incident. Razali, the driver, admitted that he had visited Butterworth numerous times but this was his first experience using Waze for navigation in the Taman Bagan area.

The lack of adequate lighting and his unfamiliarity with the locality led him to trust the app's instructions entirely, he added. Upon inspection of the scene, a 2.6-metre height clearance sign was found prior to the flyover, accompanied by a warning sign cautioning motorists about frequent collisions in the area.