Student knocked by police van seriously injured

KUCHING: A secondary school student is fighting for his life after he was knocked down by a police van while crossing the road after attending a Sukma event.

State Traffic Unit officer-in-charge DSP Alexson Naga Chabu said the accident occurred around midnight yesterday along Jalan Bako, moments after the 16-year-old student, identified as Ronaido Lim, had alighted from his school bus.

“The bus was sending back students and teachers of SMK Demak Baru, who had earlier attended a Sukma event, and had stopped by the side of the road to drop off the victim.

“Initial investigation indicated the victim emerged from the front of the bus and dashed across the road when he was knocked down by a passing General Operations Force (GOF) van, which was transporting GOF personnel to the Head of State’s official residence,” said Alexson.

An ambulance accompanying the convoy of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was diverted to the scene of the accident to transport the critically-injured teenager to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), where he was then admitted into the Red Zone.

Ronaido’s family, who stay at the nearby Kampung Siol Batu, rushed to the accident scene upon being told of the incident and later accompanied him to the hospital.

Following the incident, Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor said police will be assisting the family during their difficult period after paying them a visit at the teen’s ward on the ninth floor of SGH yesterday afternoon. “It was a road accident which can happen to anyone at any time. We are all praying for his recovery,” he said.