The woman mourning beside the victim’s body at the scene yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: An assistant medical officer from Kota Marudu was killed in a hit-and-run while crossing the Coastal Highway Road in front of Star City, Asia City here early yesterday morning.
The victim, identified only as Raidi, 29, from Kampung Guong, Kota Belud succumbed to severe head and body injuries at the scene when he was knocked down by a Toyota Vigo vehicle.
It is believed that the victim was crossing the road with a woman, believed to be his wife, from Centre Point to Asia City when the incident happened around 2am.
The woman, in her 20s, was not hurt in the incident.
It is said that while crossing the road, the victim managed to push the woman out of the way just seconds before the vehicle knocked him.
The victim was thrown a couple of meters away and landed by the side of the road.
While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, the woman was seen sitting beside the victim crying and saying, “Baby bangun, baby bangun (baby wake up, baby wake up),” and was heard a couple of times saying, “Sepatutnya saya yang kena langgar tu bukan dia (I was the one who should have been hit, not him).”
According to bystanders, two vehicles were seen speeding along the road prior to the incident.
Both vehicles left the scene without stopping.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Meanwhile, city police chief ACP M. Chandra said the 27-year-old driver of the Toyota Vigo vehicle had surrendered himself to the police the same day.
“We have detained the driver to facilitate police investigation,” said Chandra yesterday.
According to investigation, the Toyota Vigo was heading to Penampang from the city centre when the incident happened.
The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.