KOTA KINABALU: A 49-year-old lorry driver has been detained after a container fell onto a car, killing a father and daughter near Sepanggar Port yesterday.
Mohd Jadi Pelbi, 53, and his daughter, Norfaieza Mohd Jadi, 24, were trapped inside their Toyota Avanza when the container crushed the car at Jalan Sepanggar at 6.15pm.
Kota Kinabalu police chief Assistant Commissioner Shahrudin Mat Husain said preliminary investigations found that the Hino container lorry had stopped by the roadside to load a container onto its trailer.
He said the lorry driver was loading the container when it suddenly became unstable and fell to the right, crushing the victims' car as it travelled along the right lane towards Sepanggar Port.
"Both victims were trapped inside the car and were extricated by firefighters at 9.55pm," he said when contacted today.
Medical personnel from Likas Hospital pronounced both victims dead at the scene at 9.58pm.
Their bodies were sent to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital's forensic department for post-mortem examinations.
Shahrudin said the lorry driver had been detained to assist investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Those with information on the incident can contact investigating officer Inspector Brymenedren Godon at 010-7768802 or visit the nearest police station.
Firefighters used two cranes to move the container and free the car trapped beneath it. The operation took more than three hours.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd