KOTA KINABALU: A pedestrian is in critical but stable condition after she was hit by a Perodua Viva and thrown into a drain along Jalan Sepanggar, near Sri Keningau Restaurant, yesterday morning.
The victim, in her 20s, sustained several broken bones and is under doctor observation at the intensive care unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
It is learnt that the victim was walking by the side of the road when the Viva travelling from Indah Permai towards Sepanggar knocked her around 5.30am.
The victim was then thrown a couple of metres away and landed inside a drain.
It is also learnt that the Viva rammed into a trailer truck that was parked by the side of the road after hitting the woman.
The driver immediately fled the scene with the vehicle.
Three hours after the incident, members of the public found the victim unconscious inside the drain and immediately called for an ambulance.
City police chief ACP M. Chandra said the woman is still under doctors observation but reported to be in stable condition.
Following the incident and tip-off from the public, police managed to identify the owner of the vehicle and an arrest was made in less than nine hours after the incident took place, said Chandra yesterday.
Chandra added that police investigation showed that the driver, a government servant in his 30s, was believed to be under the influence of alcohol and had lost control of the vehicle while heading back to Sepanggar.
We have detained the driver and he will be remanded further to assist investigation, said Chandra, adding that the case would be investigated under Section 44 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.