POLICE believe the car carrying six family members that plunged into Sungai Korok in Kedah may have skidded off the road on its own, as no evidence of braking, impact or involvement of another vehicle was found at the scene.
Kubang Pasu District Police Chief Superintendent Mohd Radzi Rahim said preliminary checks revealed no skid marks or crash debris near the grassy embankment leading into the river.
“There were tyre tracks on the grass going straight towards the river,” he said during a press conference at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital on Monday. “No brake marks, no collision signs, no fragments from another vehicle were found. Based on this, we believe the car veered off on its own.”
The heartbreaking discovery ended a three-day search for the family, who were reported missing last Saturday.
The victims, a husband and wife and their four children, were confirmed dead after their Proton Iswara was found submerged in Sungai Korok near Kampung Kemboja.
According to Radzi, police received a missing person’s report at 1am on Sunday from the brother of the male victim, who said his brother, sister-in-law, and their children had left home around 5.30am the day before and had not been heard from since.
“Based on that report, we opened a missing persons investigation,” he said. “On 7 July, we received a tip-off from a member of the public who spotted a vehicle submerged in the river.”
Police then contacted the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) for assistance in recovering the vehicle, which was later confirmed to contain the six missing individuals.
All bodies have been sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Radzi confirmed that investigations are ongoing but reiterated that no criminal elements or third-party vehicles appear to be involved at this time.
“We are continuing to investigate all aspects, including road conditions and technical factors, but for now, no signs of foul play or collision have been detected,” he said. - July 7, 2025
