MUAR: A lorry driver lapsed into micro-sleep behind the wheel of the vehicle he was driving, leading to the accident on the North-South Expressway that killed a toddler and injured seven others.

Micro-sleep refers to very short periods of sleep lasting seconds as opposed to minutes or hours.

Muar OCPD Asst Comm Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said police were notified about the incident at around 3.44pm.

"Initial investigations found the that the lorry driver, a 26-year-old local man, was micro-sleeping behind the wheel.

"He then lost control of his vehicle and hit the metal road barrier.

"The car, carrying the family of eight, crashed into the right side of the lorry," he said here on Wednesday (Nov 20).

ACP Raiz Mukhliz said the three-year-old boy died at the scene while seven other victims were taken to the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital.

He said the lorry driver sustained light injuries and has been detained.

"He will be brought to the Muar Magistrate's Court to be remanded and the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987," he added.

ACP Raiz Mukhliz reminded the public not to drive on the road when tired and to rest if needed.