FREAK ACCIDENT: The car lands at the courtyard after it crashed through the temple wall.
SIBU: A freak accident occurred at Tua Pek Kong Temple here yesterday when a man virtually drove his car through the wall, landing it in the courtyard.
The driver, in his 70s, surnamed Lau was negotiating a bend at Chew Geok Lin Road at 7.55am when he lost control of his Toyota Fortuner.
It hit the side wall of the house of worship, bringing down the wall together with its pentagon-shaped window designed for good feng shui before eventually stopping at the courtyard.
Luckily no worshippers were in the yard as the car landed next to a large bronze incense urn where worshippers used to gather to place their incense offerings.
The accident happened on the 16th day of the lunar month.
A worshipper said it was fortunate that the accident did not happen the day before when a large crowd gathered in the early morning as worshippers usually went to the temple on the first and 15th day of each month to make offerings and pray.
Lau himself was saved in the accident by the airbag.
Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud crash as the temple wall came down, and rushed over to help Lau; he was pinned to his seat by the airbag.
His family members rushed over and took him to a medical centre for a check-up.
A female temple staff said she was fortunate to arrive for work a few minutes after the accident.
“It is my habit to walk through the courtyard to the office each morning. The spot where the car landed is my path to the office. I believe I have been protected by the deity.”
Repair works were immediately underway.
By afternoon, workers had sealed the hole in the wall. Today, they will lay the bricks.
Temple committee chairman Penghulu Soon Choon Hoo said arrangement had been made with Lau’s family to pay for the repair.
“His son has approached our committee and arrangements have been made.”
Soon said he would not blame Lau for the mishap.
“It is an accident. I am happy he was not hurt. In fact, I know Lau personally. I wish him well and may peace be with him.”
The repair works might take a week, and Soon said Lau’s son would help to look for a replacement of the pentagon-shaped window locally.
The news of the freak accident spread fast.
Within an hour, townsfolk had started asking each other via handphone and Facebook about the registration number of the car, which they wanted to punt on.
But the number became a ‘red number’ in all outlets by noon, meaning it was barred.