The driver (48) was traveling from Penang to Terengganu with his wife and 23-year-old son on Sunday evening. They drove a white Perodua Axia, a Malaysian-made car.
It had been raining and it was foggy, so visibility was limited. As the driver took a left turn, he suddenly collided with the elephant calf. This caused the animal to fall to the ground.
When the five elephants that were with the calf saw this, they rushed at the chariot and began to trample it. When the young animal stood up again, the herd walked away.
It is unclear whether the family was able to escape from the vehicle before the elephants started rampaging. It is certain that no seriously injured or fatalities are mentioned in the local police announcement.
Images show that the damage to the car is significant. It has a lot of dents and the windows are shattered. The authorities did not communicate about the condition of the elephant.
The rapid construction of roads in Malaysia is putting elephant habitats under pressure. Police are calling on drivers to be more careful when using highways.