SABAH police have confirmed that a tragic car accident which saw two teenagers losing their lives while three individuals sustained injuries had happened during a high-speed chase in Sipitang.
Sipitang police chief Mail Sundongi said the incident occurred on late Wednesday afternoon when the 19-year-old driver of the vehicle attempted to evade a pursuing Road Transport Department (RTD) enforcement team.
“The accident took place at about 5.10 pm on Wednesday, leading to the demise of a 19-year-old driver and a 14-year-old girl in the rear passenger seat.
“They perished at the scene after the car veered into a ditch along the Sabah Forest Industries road,” he said.
Mail said preliminary findings indicate that the vehicle, which had five occupants, was en route from a shopping complex to Kampung Sibubu when a RTD enforcement team began tailing them.
After a brief pursuit, the enforcement team activated beacon lights in an attempt to signal the driver to pull over.
"The driver accelerated, prompting a chase," said Mail, adding that the authorities suspect the driver then lost control, causing the vehicle to skid off the road and plunge into a ditch.
Promptly notified by the RTD enforcement officials, the police initiated an investigation into the incident.
Firefighters were summoned to assist in extracting the trapped bodies of the driver and rear-seat passenger.
The three other occupants were swiftly transported to the hospital for medical attention.
Mail noted that the case is being probed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 which deals with death caused by reckless or dangerous driving. – The Vibes, February 16, 2024
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