Driver in fatal hit-and-run remanded
SERDANG: The driver of a vehicle which was allegedly involved in Sunday night’s hit-and-run accident that killed a customer at a hawker centre has been remanded for four days, police said.
Serdang OCPD Asst Comm Ismadi Borhan said the driver, a man in his 20s, surrendered to police at 1.43am yesterday.
“We obtained a remand order for him until Thursday.
“His urine tested negative for drugs, but we have taken his blood sample to gauge his alcohol level,” he said, adding that the suspect has no criminal record.
He said the suspect admitted to driving the four-wheel drive vehicle when the incident happened at a hawker centre in Taman Equine here.
The vehicle reportedly ploughed into a table at the open air area of the hawker centre along Jalan Equine 9B in Taman Equine at about 8.15pm.
After the initial collision, the driver drove off before hitting three other vehicles there.
A woman in her 50s died at the scene while at least three others suffered injuries.
The victims were sent to Serdang Hospital.
The case is being investigated under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
Selangor Local Government, Public Transport and New Village Development Committee chairman Ng Sze Han said local councils in the state have their own guidelines for restaurant operators on the placement of their furniture outside their restaurants, but not on roads.
“I have instructed the local councils to inspect premises in their areas to ensure the guidelines are followed,” Ng said in a message to The Star via WhatsApp.
Ng said Malaysians have the habit of having meals outdoors, where dining tables and chairs are usually placed on the roadsides.
“However, safety must not be compromised. We will need to recheck the current guidelines and ensure that safety is given top priority,” Ng said.
Subang Jaya Municipal councillor Ambarasan Murugesu, whose area of responsibility includes Taman Equine, said the issue of restaurants placing chairs and tables on the roadsides isn’t new for the area.
“We have raised the issue a number of times, and the council enforcement officers have confiscated chairs and tables which were placed on the road.
“The council has also discussed the issue with restaurant owners, but there is the other matter about customer demand (of wanting to eat outdoors) that needs to be dealt with,” said Ambarasan.