Boy killed, siblings seriously hurt as pickup truck overturns
BINTULU: A 12-year- old boy was killed while his three siblings were seriously injured after the pickup truck they were travelling in was involved in an accident at KM23 Bintulu-Miri coastal road yesterday.
The deceased was identified as Kenneth Clyde Angkin Jeffery.
The siblings, aged five, seven and 13, suffered serious injuries while their father, a 44-year- old Bintulu Marine Police corporal, was left with a broken leg.
The 25-year- old pickup truck driver was unhurt while another passenger sustained minor injuries.
State Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department DSP Bingkok John said initial investigation revealed the accident occurred after a lorry travelling on the left side of the road suddenly switched lanes in front of the pickup truck.
“The pickup truck driver swerved to avoid the lorry but ended up overturning. Our findings pointed to negligence on the part of the lorry driver for making a sudden change of lanes which led to the accident,” said Bingkok in a statement.
According to him, the unidentified lorry did not stop following the accident.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
The Fire and Rescue Department here received a distress call at 1.22am and dispatched its personnel to extricate a male victim from the wrecked pickup truck.
The injured survivors were rushed to Bintulu Hospital for medical treatment.