Pedestrian killed in hit-and- run

KUCHING: A pedestrian was killed in a suspected hit-andrun accident early yesterday at Layar junction, Betong-Sarikei road.

It is understood that Andrew Acha Ensimau was crossing the road from Rumah Asap Layar to Engkerangji longhouse when a vehicle hit him around 12.15am.

State Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department deputy chief Bingkok John said the car fled the scene after hitting Andrew, who was taken to Betong Hospital in serious condition.

He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

“No arrest has been made and police are still locating the suspect, who is still at large,” he said in a statement, adding there were no known witnesses to the incident.

The victim’s family was notified and a post-mortem carried out.

“The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said.

Separately, a multipurpose vehicle was damaged after it caught fire along Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub, in front of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, around noon yesterday.

Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) state assistant operations director Tiong Ling Hii said Bomba was alerted of the incident at 11.58am and dispatched a team from the Petra Jaya Fire Station to the scene.

Upon arrival they found members of the public had put out the fire with a fire extinguisher.

The fire damaged an estimated 30 per cent of the vehicle’s front section.