Teacher killed, five students injured in Lok Kawi accident

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The victims’ pick-up truck (left) and the Toyota Hilux at the accident scene at Papar-Kota Kinabalu Road yesterday.

PENAMPANG: A primary school teacher died while two of her five students broke their legs when a Toyota Hilux rammed into their four-wheel-drive vehicle along Km 16, Papar-Kota Kinabalu Road, near Sabindo in Lok Kawi yesterday morning.

Itum Likum, 52, who taught at SK Kem Lok Kawi, was pronounced dead by paramedics while on the way to the hospital.

The teacher was on the way to school with five of her students, age 10 and 12, when the incident happened around 6.30am.

District police chief DSP Haris Ibrahim said two students broke their legs while three others escaped with minor injuries.

“The injured pupils are currently being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1 and are reported to be in good and stable condition,”¨ he said yesterday.

Haris said initial investigation revealed a couple in the Toyota Hilux vehicle were on their way to Miri, Sarawak from Kota Kinabalu when the driver allegedly lost control of the wheel and knocked a road divider at a U-turn along the Papar-Kota Kinabalu Road near the Sabindo traffic light.

“The Toyota Hilux then entered the opposite lane and rammed into the on-coming four-wheel-drive vehicle that was driven by the victim with five of her students.

“The couple however escaped injury but police have detained the driver to assist police investigation,” said Haris.

Police urged eyewitnesses to come forward to assist in their investigation of the accident under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.