KOTA KINABALU, Oct 19 — A 49-year-old trailer driver has been detained to assist investigations after a container toppled and crushed a car, killing a father and daughter along Jalan Sepanggar near Sepanggar Port yesterday evening.
In the 6.15pm incident, Mohd Jadi Pelbi, 53, and his daughter Norfaieza Mohd Jadi, 24, died at the scene after being trapped inside their Toyota Avanza multi-purpose vehicle, Berita Harian (BH) reported.
Kota Kinabalu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shahrudin Mat Husain said preliminary checks showed the Hino container lorry had stopped in the left lane to load a container placed on the roadside.
“At the time, the driver was lifting the container onto the trailer while the victims’ Toyota Avanza was travelling in the right lane towards Sepanggar Port. Suddenly, the container lost balance and fell to the right, crushing the car,” he told BH.
Both victims were pinned inside the vehicle until firefighters managed to free them at 9.55pm. Assisted by two cranes, the operation took more than three hours before the trapped vehicle could be removed.
Medical officers from Hospital Likas confirmed their deaths at 9.58pm. The bodies were later sent to the Queen Elizabeth I Hospital forensic unit for post mortem.
Shahrudin said the trailer driver has been detained for investigation under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward by contacting investigating officer Inspector Brymenedren Godon at 010 7768802 or any nearby police station.