LAHAD DATU: Three persons, including a two-year-old girl, were killed and three others were seriously injured in a head-on collision between their Proton Saga Baru car and a Mazda 4WD pick-up at Km 39, Lahad Datu-Tungku road here yesterday.
One of the cars badly damaged in the accident.
District police chief Superintendent Shamsudin Mat said the dead were identified as Dinowana Sangkula, 65, Amir Bin Bolo, 37, and Siti Hana Binti Amran, 2, while the Proton Saga driver and two other passengers were seriously injured.
He said the pick-up driver and five passengers aged between 10 and 50, suffered minor injuries in the accident which occurred around 12 noon.
“The injured and the bodies of the victims were taken to Lahad Datu Hospital,” he said, adding that the three with serious injuries were reported to be in stable condition.
Shamsudin said the victims in the Proton Saga were travelling to Tungku from the town here. He said initial police investigation showed that the pick-up had strayed into the path of the oncoming Proton Saga.
Shamsudin urged eye-witnesses to come forward to assist police in their investigation, or call 089-881255.
He reminded the public to drive carefully, especially during the Hari Raya Haji celebrations today.
Dinowana and Siti Hana were killed on the spot while Amir died in the hospital.
Meanwhile, District Fire and Rescue Department operation officer Wasli Masi @ Maseh said his department was informed of the accident at 12.30pm. “The victims who were trapped in their vehicle were freed by the Fire and Rescue Department personnel by around 1.20pm,” he said.
Meanwhile, a local man suffered minor injuries when the car he was driving crashed into a trailer truck at Mile 2, Silam Road yesterday. It is learnt that the man in his 30Õs was on the way to the town from Sri Perdana when the accident occurred around 5.28am.
The victim suffered arm injuries and was sent to the nearest hospital by a passer-by.