Four killed in horrific crash

LAHAD DATU: Two men and two women were killed in a horrific head-on collision between the mini van they were travelling in and a trailer truck at Km 3, Lahad Datu-Tungku road yesterday.

The victims, comprising the van driver and three passengers, were travelling towards Lahad Datu town from their homes in Kampung Desa Bajau when the van collided with the trailer coming from the opposite direction about 5.45am.

District police chief ACP Hamzah Ahmad said the victims were identified as driver Eddie Bin Luna, 46, Mohamad Bin Jujani, 67, Hanisa Binti Baskua, 37, and Kabdatul Binti Alinjaman, 34.

Hamzah said initial investigation at the scene found that the trailer truck driver had lost control of the vehicle, which skidded into the path of the van.

The trailer truck dragged the mini van into the ditch before landing on the mini van, he said, adding that the victims were pinned under the truck inside their vehicle.

Hamzah said the 58-year-old trailer truck driver is currently in police custody to assist in police investigation under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Meanwhile, Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Department chief Mohd Apandi Mahmood, who was met at the scene, said his department received a call informing them about the incident at 5.59am.

Apandi said 18 personnel rushed to the scene in two fire engines and two utility vehicles.

He said the remains of the first victim were extricated from the mini van at 9.05am while those of the last victim were taken out at 9.22am.

Family members were seen crying at the scene while others went to buy some ‘kain batik’ to cover the remains of the victims after they were taken out of the vehicle.

A severed leg and some bones were visible even before the trailer truck was removed. Some mangled parts of the van with blood stains were scattered at the scene.

The husband of one of the victims was heard saying that his wife was going to the market to buy some groceries and he never thought that yesterday would be their last day together.

After all the remains were retrieved from the van, some family members were seen collecting pieces of them and putting them inside plastic bags.