LATEST: Early morning crash in Kuching claims passenger’s life

KUCHING (Sept 17): A passenger succumbed to his injuries while the driver survived after their hatchback collided with a sedan at Jalan Teo Kui Sing (Jalan Stutong Baru) here early this morning.

Kuching district police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said the collision is believed to have occurred when the sedan, travelling from Jalan Lapangan Terbang towards Jalan Stutong, lost control and entered the opposite lane, resulting in a collision with the oncoming hatchback.

“The passenger of the hatchback was pronounced dead by a doctor at the Sarawak General Hospital emergency ward,” he said .

Mohd Farhan said the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving.

He urged the public to provide any information regarding the incident by contacting Kuching district police traffic investigating officer Insp Charlie Aloysius at 041-8682068, the district Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department at 082-259900, or any nearest police station.

Earlier, the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) in a statement said they were notified about the incident at 12.45am, and firefighters from the Tabuan Jaya fire station were despatched to the scene.

“Upon arrival, it was found that the collision involved a sedan driven by a foreign woman and a hatchback driven by a local man with another passenger.

“The driver of the hatchback suffered minor injuries and was extricated by members of the public prior to the firefighters’ arrival.

“The passenger, who was seriously injured, was extricated by firefighters using a stretcher.”

Bomba said both victims were transported to the hospital by ambulance. The driver of the sedan did not sustain any injuries.