THE driver tried to avoid a cat with tragic consequences.

Two Malaysians and a US oil rig worker died when their car skidded and burst into flames near Kota Baru.

The incident took place at 4.30am last Saturday.

The driver, Tengku Ahmad Nazim Tengku Azizan, 30, survived with burns on his legs, arms and body, reported Bernama.

Tengku Ahmad said he and his friends had just had supper and were on their way home.

"We were going to Pasir Mas to eat eel soup for supper and (American Christopher) Gonzales joined us because he wanted to try it. The accident happened when we were on the way back.

"I tried to avoid a cat that was crossing the road and lost control of the car before hitting the wall of a bridge and overturning.

"The last thing I remembered was crawling out of the car before it caught fire. And then, I lost consciousness," said Tengku Ahmad Nazim from his hospital bed.

Kota Darul Naim fire station senior officer Abdul Ghani Mamat said they received a call at 5.13am and two fire engines were sent to the scene, reported New Straits Times.

He said firemen took about 10 minutes to put out the fire and 20 minutes to extricate the bodies.

"Two of the bodies were found trapped inside the car while another was pinned under it," Mr Ghani said.

This article was first published in The New Paper.