Cops detain pickup truck driver behind accident

KUALA SELANGOR: Police have detained the pickup truck driver who rammed into four national Paralympic cyclists at the KLKuala Selangor Expressway yesterday morning.

The 46-year-old man was picked up after he lodged a police report at Kampung Baru Subang police station several hours after the incident.

He was taken to the district traffic police station for questioning.

District police chief Superintendent Ruslan Abdullah confirmed that the man had been detained to facilitate investigations.

“We have opened an investigation into the case under Section 43 of the Road Transport Act 1987. We have identified the driver, who had lodged a police report on the incident. The driver has been brought here for further action.”

Section 43 stipulates that anyone found guilty of driving without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other road users, shall be punished with a minimum RM4,000 fine but not exceeding RM10,000.

Those found guilty are liable to be jailed up to a year.

On the incident, Ruslan said it occurred when seven cyclists, their coach and manager were conducting a training exercise, which started from Kampung Pandan Sports Complex in Kuala Lumpur at 9am.

“The cyclists, on tandem bicycles, were already on their way back to Kampung Pandan, when four of them and their coach, were rammed by a Toyota Hilux at Km12.5 of the highway.

“Police believe that the Hilux was changing lanes to the Bandar Tasik Puteri exit when it rammed into the victims. The victims, aged between 19 and 42, sustained serious injuries and were taken to Sungai Buloh Hospital.”