Activist killed when flood waters sweep van
KOTA KINABALU: An Indonesian woman was killed when the van she was travelling in was swept away by flood waters at Kampung Lingan Lama in Papar on Sunday.
Also in the van were nine Japanese tourists aged between eight and 22, Papar district police chief DSP Ladamah Sulaiman said.
They were brought to the Papar district hospital where they received outpatient treatment for injuries sustained in the incident.
According to Ladamah, the woman killed was a 34-year-old activist and she died of chest injuries at the Papar district hospital at about 11pm.
“Initial investigations revealed that those involved in the accident were part of a group travelling in two vans and a four-wheel-drive vehicle. They were leaving Kampung Lingan when the accident happened.
“The vehicles were crossing the river when the Mitsubishi van the group was in was suddenly swept away by strong current,” he said, adding that the police received the call on the incident at about 5pm.
Ladamah said the 26-year-old driver of the van had been detained for questioning and the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Meanwhile, the Civil Defence Force was called in to help transport the remaining members of the group to safety as the roads leading to the area were flooded and only passable by heavy vehicles.