By Rebecca Chong
Nurse burnt to death, man rescued as car catches fire in crash
SANDAKAN: A 30-year-old woman, said to be a dental nurse, was burnt to death while a 30-yearold man was rescued when the Mazda car they were travelling in caught fire after crashing into a empty house near Wisma Yun Cheong Loong at Labuk Lama Road, Mile 9 here around 4.20am.
According to Sandakan Zone Fire and Rescue Department head Andrre Andrew, the driver, Karthigayan A/L Rajalingam managed to escape with the help of passers-by but it was too late for them to help the woman.
Six other fire and rescue personnel led by PBK II Arshad Kadir rushed to the scene in a fire engine and EMRS after receiving a call on the incident around 4.20am.
“The 20 x 20 square feet empty house also caught fire and was 90 per cent destroyed. The fire was put out around 5.04am,” Andrre said.
The identity of the woman was not immediately known but is said to be a dental nurse working in Beluran Hospital and married with one child.
A witness, who wished to be known as Yuri, said she and her sibling were the first to get to the scene after they heard a loud bang near her home. Her neighbours then also came to the scene.
“We saw a car on fire and called the fire station. When we approached the car, we saw a man behind the wheel and quickly helped him get out of the car. It took some time because he was big-sized and very heavy. He was semi-conscious at the time.
“After getting the driver out, a woman passenger in the back seat of the car desperately cried for help, but the fire was too fierce as that part was right next to a burning banana tree. We were unable to save her. It broke my heart and I do not know how long this is going to haunt me; that I did not manage to save that woman.
“The firemen only reached the scene after the fire was almost out. The woman was already gone (died),” Yuri, who was in tears, said.