A father and daughter were killed in Kota Kinabalu after a falling shipping container crushed their car, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into safety compliance and negligence
KOTA KINABALU: A father and his daughter were killed after a container toppled and crushed the car they were travelling in at Jalan Pelabuhan Sepanggar Bay, near Wisma Sabah Ports here, yesterday.
The victims were 53-year-old Mohd Jadi Pelbi, who was driving the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), and his 24-year-old daughter, Norfaieza Mohd Jadi, who was in the passenger seat.
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre said that, according to witnesses, the trailer lorry was loading a container onto the trailer from the roadside when it tipped over and crushed the passing MPV.
“A total of 26 personnel, along with various firefighting and rescue vehicles, rushed to the scene, about 25 kilometres away, after receiving an emergency call at 6.31 pm,” it said in a statement today.
Firefighters managed to extricate both victims from the crushed vehicle with the assistance of two cranes belonging to the lorry company.
However, both victims were confirmed dead at the scene by Health Ministry medical personnel due to severe injuries, and their bodies were then handed over the to police for post-mortem arrangements.
Meanwhile, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustafa Sakmud said those found to have been negligent and failed to comply with container-handling safety standards, resulting in the deaths of the father and daughter, would be held accountable.
Mustafa, who is also Sepanggar Member of Parliament, called on the police and the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the actual cause of the fatal accident, especially on safety procedures for heavy vehicle operations in the area.
“If there was negligence and non-compliance involving any party, I will make sure that those responsible are held accountable. Enough is enough, as we have had enough of these accidents involving heavy vehicles recurring in Sepanggar.
“As a father, my heart sank upon receiving news of this heartbreaking tragedy, and our priority is to ensure that the victims’ family receives the appropriate support and that justice is served,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Mustafa, who extended his condolences to the victims’ family, said he had instructed the Sepanggar Parliamentary Service Centre (Suara Sepanggar) to visit the family and identify their urgent needs, as well as help review and facilitate applications for any assistance and compensation they may be eligible to.