Late car-crash assailant was depressed, attacked disabled man before causing accident: PDRM

GEORGE TOWN – The deceased driver of a Suzuki Swift involved in a three-vehicle collision in Bayan Lepas yesterday is alleged to have attacked a disabled man before hastily driving away in his car and crashing into the other vehicles twenty minutes later.

Barat Daya district police chief Superintendent A. Anbalagan said the 30-year-old deceased driver had allegedly attacked a 21-year-old disabled man at a clothing outlet in Sg Tiram at about 2.30pm.

He said initial investigations revealed that the suspect in the Sg Tiram incident was the driver of the Suzuki Swift, who had died due to serious head and abdominal injuries at the Penang Hospital several hours after admission.

The deceased, identified as a business development officer at a private firm from Bayan Baru, is believed to have been suffering from depression since early March.

Anbalagan said the disabled victim was a 21-year-old special education student from Damar Laut in Bayan Lepas who was in a clothing shop during the incident when the suspect took the victim's helmet and hit him on the head.

The victim suffered serious injuries to his head, eyes, lips, teeth, and nasal bones.

“An eyewitness, who is also the complainant, told police he saw the suspect running out of the shoplot without a shoe,” he said.

“He went in to check and found the victim in a pool of blood. The complainant then called for an ambulance and had the victim rushed to Penang Hospital.”

Anbalagan added that the Forensics Department found a shoe in the shop, which was similar to another shoe the deceased was wearing. It was also identified by the deceased’s brother.

“The deceased was believed to be under stress since early March,” he said.

The deceased, who escaped from the scene, sped in his vehicle before ramming into a Toyota Vios, a Perodua Myvi, and a motorcycle while injuring several others.

The driver of the Suzuki Swift died at about 4.10pm at the Penang Hospital.

Anbalagan said the case is being investigated under Section 41(1)(a) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving. – The Vibes, April 2, 2021