HULU Terengganu authorities are investigating a fatal road accident in which a sport utility vehicle (SUV) plunged into a 61-metre ravine along Kilometer 52 of the Kuala Jeneris-Sungai Gawi-Aring (Bukit Kawah) road, killing a couple who were due to be married on Christmas Day.
Hulu Terengganu Police Chief Superintendent Sharudin Abdul Wahab said there were no brake marks at the scene, indicating that the vehicle appeared to have driven straight into a section of road that had been closed due to a previous landslide.
He added that warning signs and road barriers installed at the site had reportedly been moved by unknown individuals.
“Based on the debris found along the slope of the ravine, the SUV was not travelling at high speed. If the driver had been speeding, the vehicle would normally have ‘flown’ slightly before plunging down.
“We believe the accident was primarily due to human error, likely because the driver’s attention was not fully on the road,” Superintendent Sharudin explained.
He also noted that the SUV’s dashboard camera was missing, although its mount was discovered at the scene. It is believed the device was ejected during the crash.
Recovery of the vehicle from the ravine took nearly four hours, complicated by heavy rain, with operations commencing at 2 pm and concluding after the SUV was brought to the Hulu Terengganu police station.
“We will conduct monitoring and take legal action against anyone found tampering with or removing road safety signs in this area,” he added.
The victims, identified as 52-year-old teacher Hassan Shazali and 34-year-old canteen worker Suzaimah Che Azis, were en route to Gua Musang, Kelantan, when their Toyota Fortuner plunged into the ravine around 5.30 pm on Friday. Both succumbed to severe injuries at the scene.
Hassan, a father of five children aged between eight and 24, had recently divorced and was planning to marry Suzaimah, a single mother of three children aged seven, 12 and 15, on 25 December.
Funeral rites for Hassan were held at Tanah Perkuburan Islam Kampung Kedai Menanti, Pasir Puteh at 9.10 pm, while Suzaimah was laid to rest at Tanah Perkuburan Islam Kampung Lebir, Gua Musang at 9.26 pm.
The incident has raised renewed concerns over road safety in areas prone to landslides and the critical importance of maintaining warning signs and barriers to prevent similar tragedies. - December 7, 2025
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