Mpv Carrying 5 Mara Students In Fatal Crash Was Speeding Say Cops

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Tuaran police chief says an initial probe found that the vehicle lost control before veering into the opposite lane and crashing into a lorry.
The victims were all trapped inside the vehicle and were extricated by fire and rescue department personnel before their bodies were sent to Tuaran Hospital for post-mortem. (JBPM pic)PETALING JAYA: The vehicle involved in a crash that killed five Mara students in Tuaran, Sabah yesterday, was believed to have been speeding before it crashed into a lorry, say police
Tuaran police chief Noraidin Ag Maidin said a preliminary police investigation found that the victims’ multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) was speeding before it lost control and veered into the opposite lane and hit the lorry, Bernama reported.
“This caused the MPV to crash into a lorry transporting stones from Tuaran towards Kota Kinabalu,” he said in a statement today.
He added that all the victims, who were trapped inside the vehicle, were extricated by fire and rescue personnel before their bodies were sent to Tuaran Hospital for post-mortem.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, and several individuals have had their statements recorded to assist in the investigation, he said.
“Anyone with information on the crash is urged to contact traffic investigation officer Haffiz at 011-61600964 or approach the nearest police station,” Noraidin added.
The incident occurred at about 2.10pm in front of the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) training centre on Jalan Gayang and the five victims were confirmed dead at the scene by health ministry officials.
Last night, Mara chairman Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said he had ordered immediate assistance for the families of the five students from the Mara Skills Institute (IKM) who were killed in Tuaran.
He identified them as Ikhwan Kurniawan, Harianto Anuar, Danial Sarag, Mohamad Zuhaikal, and Neil Stanley Pletinie. They were all aged 20.
Asyraf said he had instructed the Sabah Mara director and Kota Kinabalu IKM management to immediately contact the students’ families and provide all necessary assistance, including facilitating their funeral arrangements, Bernama reported. - FMT

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