Sarawakians’ heroic response: Drivers block traffic to save child sprinting down Serian highway

A screenshot of the dashcam video showing vehicles stopping upon spotting a child running in the middle of Pan Borneo Highway near Serian Bridge on Oct 30, 2024. Photo credit: Gabriel Liew Facebook

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, Nov 1: A viral dashcam video on social media captured a tense moment as a young child was seen sprinting down the middle of the Pan Borneo Highway near the Serian Bridge, prompting approaching vehicles to halt and block the road to save him.

Uploaded by netizen Gabriel Liew, the incident has drawn widespread praise, with many commending the drivers for their quick reactions in preventing a potential tragedy.

The incident, believed to have occurred at 11.21am on Oct 30, showed the child appearing oblivious to the danger as he ran wildly in the midst of the highway. Although the highway was not particularly busy at that moment, vehicles often travelled at high speeds, making the situation all the more perilous.

In the footage, the dashcam owner was forced to switch to the left lane upon spotting the child, while another car in the rightmost lane promptly slowed down to avoid hitting the unsupervised child.

Other vehicles followed suit, slowing down and effectively blocking the two lanes, including the motorcycle lane on the left.

Several motorists exited their cars to chase after the child to ensure his safety.

A screenshot of the dashcam video shows motorists stopping their cars and blocking the highway as they rush out to chase after the boy running in the middle of Pan Borneo Highway near Serian Bridge on Oct 30, 2023. Photo credit: Gabriel Liew Facebook

Liew mentioned in his post that the child’s family members emerged from a nearby lane, presumable after realising the situation.

He expressed gratitude to all the motorists for their collective effort in preventing an accident.

One netizen praised the drivers, stating, “You all are heroes. Thanks for doing your best; you saved a life.”

Another added, “Thanks to those caring citizens who stopped their cars to block the road and get out to save the baby.”

The one-minute and 52-second video has since gone viral, highlighting serious safety concerns and raising questions about child supervision in potentially dangerous areas.

After the child was rescued, a man captured in the video shaking his head as he walked back to his car expressed disbelief at how the incident could have occurred.

A screenshot of the dashcam video showing the child being rescued as drivers return to their vehicles at Pan Borneo Highway near Serian Bridge on Oct 30, 2024. Photo credit: Gabriel Liew Facebook

One user pointed out, “The Pan Borneo Highway, built alongside village residential areas with many roads branching off unexpectedly, is very dangerous for high-speed vehicles.”

This incident has beautifully reflected the caring nature of Sarawakians, showcasing a strong sense of community and concern for one another’s safety.

The swift and selfless actions of the motorists who stopped their vehicles and actively pursued the child demonstrated a collective commitment to protecting the vulnerable, particularly children who may be unaware of the dangers around them.

The willingness of these individuals to put their own safety at risk for the sake of a child in distress speaks volumes about the values held by the people of Sarawak.

In a time when such acts of kindness can often go unnoticed, this incident serves as a reminder of the profound impact that a caring community can have. — DayakDaily