Three women and baby killed in two separate accidents
KOTA KINABALU: Four people including a nine-month-old baby were killed in two separate accidents in Sabah during the weekend.
The first mishap occurred at KM35 of the Semporna-Tawau Road at 4.50pm on Saturday which claimed the lives of baby girl Haira Herwan and two women, Mariam Ali, 66, and Mashita Sabur, 24.
They were among six people travelling in a car from Tawau to Semporna when the 31-year-old driver lost control and swerved into the opposite lane and collided with a vehicle coming from Semporna.
Tawau OCPD Superintendent Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said that the three victims were declared dead at the Semporna Hospital, while the other three in their vehicle, including the driver, suffered serious injuries.
Farhan said the driver suffered a serious head injury and broken rib. A seven-year-old boy suffered serious injuries to the head, hands and a broken right thighbone while a 10-year-old girl sustained a serious head injury.
All the three are warded at the Semporna Hospital.
“Firemen and passers-by extricated all the victims from the car and rushed them to the hospital.
“The 46-year-old driver of the other car and his two passengers, both 24-year-old Chinese nationals, escaped with minor injuries,” Farhan said.
It was learnt that they were on the way to Tawau Airport, and the two tourists were allowed to continue their journey back to China.
The driver of the second vehicle was taken to the Semporna district police headquarters for further investigation.
In the second accident, a 22-year-old woman died from serious head injuries while her seriously injured teenage brother was warded at Keningau Hospital after they were involved in a 2.30am accident on Sunday at Mile 27 Keningau-Tenom Road.
Keningau OCPD Superintendent Yampil Anak Garai said Nurul Syakina Kasim was driving from Tenom towards Keningau when she lost control of the car and hit a four-wheel drive coming from the opposite direction.
“Her 17-year-old brother, who was found unconscious, suffered a severe leg injury and fractured his left arm. He is treated at the hospital’s Red Zone,” he said.
He added the other driver, a 38-year-old man travelling alone, escaped with minor injuries.
The Fire and Rescue Services Department extricated Nurul Syakina and her injured brother from the wreckage.
Both accidents are being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.