Golden Citizen dead, two injured in Saratok accident

SARATOK, 11 Oct: A 78-year-old golden citizen died while two other men were injured in an accident involving a Toyota Hilux and Perodua Bezza on the 418.4 kilometre of Pan Borneo Highway towards Betong, near P-Turn Simpang Saratok this morning.

The fatality was Bohari Derahman, 78, a front passenger of Perodua Bezza who was confirmed dead at Saratok Hospital after suffering severe head injuries.

Two other victims, a 60-year-old Toyota Hilux driver and a 77-year-old Perodua Bezza driver, suffered head and leg injuries as well as head and body injuries, both of which were treated at Saratok Hospital.

Saratok District Police Chief, DSP Mathew Manggie said police received information about the incident at 12:52 p.m.

"An initial investigation found that the accident occurred at about 10:57 a.m. when Toyota Hilux moving straight in the left lane towards Betong failed to evade before breaking Perodua Bezza which came out abruptly from the P-Turn junction.

"As a result of the violation, all three individuals involved were injured before being taken by ambulance to Saratok Hospital for treatment", he said in a statement today.

He said, based on the initial investigation, the accident is believed to have been caused by the negligence of the Perodua Bezza driver who exited from the P-Turn junction without first giving way to a straight moving vehicle.

The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.