They were Mohamad Faiz Bakhri, 28, a member of the Sungai Siput district police headquarters Criminal Investigation Division, his wife Nik Iedayu Nik Hassan, 30, their son Mohamad Faqih Irsyad, 16 months, and Nik Iedayu’s sister Nik Ifieka, 28.

Another of the couple’s children, Mohamad Fariz Iskandar, three, suffered severe injuries and was taken to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.

Sungai Siput district police chief Mohd Khaizam Ahmad Shahabudin said the car they were travelling in collided with a trailer laden with construction material which had skidded into the opposite lane at about 10.20pm.

Faiz and his family were believed to be returning home after having a meal at a stall about 500m from the scene of the crash.

Khaizam said the 26-year-old trailer driver was detained for investigations.

He said the bodies of the victims were sent to Sungai Siput Hospital for post-mortem and will be taken to Kota Bharu, Kelantan, for burial.