UMS students in shock over fatal accident
KOTA KINABALU: The deaths of two students at the accident-prone Likas Bay coastal road here have shocked their friends and fellow students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Third-year psychology student Mohd Haidil Amran, 23, and second-year business and accounting student Nur Azlina Tan Lian Chew, 22, were on their way back to their college residence in the Kingfisher area when their car slammed into a tree.
They were killed on the spot at about 3.40am yesterday.
Shocked university mates described them as kind and bright in posts on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Nuraini Umar remembered Haidil as a helpful person.
“He would oblige everytime I asked him for help. He never said no,” Nuraini said on Facebook.
Shamri Mabustan said it was hard to believe that his friend was gone.
“It was only a day or two ago that we talked about accessories for his car,” he said.
Many of Nur Azlina’s friends described her as reserved but smart.
Both the deceased were from the east coast of Sabah. Haidil was from Kunak district while Nur Azlina was from Tawau.
Kota Kinabalu acting police chief Supt George Abdul Rakman said police did not suspect the driver to be under the influence of alcohol.
He said initial investigations showed that Haidil lost control of the car while he was overtaking another vehicle.
“He could have hit a road divider and then smashed into the tree. The two suffered multiple injuries,” he said, adding that the wrecked car had been sent to Puspakom for forensic inspection.
The tragedy happened at a curving stretch of the coastal road where many fatal accidents had occurred.
While speeding was usually the main cause, crosswinds have also been blamed.