RTD: Officer’s death classified as mishap

SHAH ALAM: The Road Transport Department (RTD) believes the fatal incident involving its officer, who was run over by a trailer in Setia Alam here on Wednesday, was a case of mishap.

This was based on information gathered about the 1pm accident, in which Selangor RTD officer Ridzuan Mohd Yusof died at the scene due to head injuries.

It was found that the victim and his colleagues had followed standard operating procedure (SOP) when conducting the routine inspection near the Setia Alam toll plaza.

RTD deputy director-general (management) Datuk Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman said the department had, nonetheless, initiated a review of the SOP to see how safety aspects could be improved to better protect its personnel.

“From what we can gather about the incident, we find that it was a case of mishap for the victim.

“He was on duty as a driver for the team that day, and got down from the department’s vehicle to clear traffic. The victim ordered a trailer driver blocking the motorcycle lane to move while his colleagues were inspecting another trailer.

“Somehow, when the trailer started moving, we believe he may have been in the trailer driver’s blind spot and got run over,” he said yesterday.

Uzir, who was met after handing over aid to the family of another RTD officer who died of a heart attack last month, said the matter was under police investigation.

He said internal investigations found that Ridzuan and his three colleagues had followed SOP.

On an allegation that Ridzuan was corrupt, Uzir said the Peninsula RTD Officers Union had lodged a police report against a lorry driver who made the allegation on Facebook.

On corruption, Uzir said RTD had taken action against 105 officers between January last year and this month for disciplinary offences, including soliciting bribes.

He said the actions taken included pay cuts, suspension and dismissal.