A COUPLE escaped with minor injuries after their SUV crashed into a wild elephant crossing Jalan Jerangau-Jabor near Bandar Cheneh Baru last night, leaving their vehicle badly damaged.
The incident occurred at about 7.30pm at KM160 of the road as Amirul Afiq Aazmi, 31, and his wife, in her 30s, were travelling from Kuantan, Pahang, towards Kelantan.
The SUV was believed to have been unable to avoid the elephant as it crossed the road towards a nearby oil palm plantation.
A car travelling behind the SUV also failed to stop in time and collided with the rear of the vehicle.
The couple, who sustained minor injuries, were helped out of the badly damaged SUV by members of the public before being taken to the Emergency Unit at Kemaman Hospital for treatment.
Kemaman district police chief Superintendent Mohd Razi Rosli confirmed the incident when contacted.
The elephant was believed to be the same animal reportedly seen roaming around the area by residents in the past few days.
The incident is the second involving wild elephants in the area within a month.
In August, another couple had a close call when their multipurpose vehicle (MPV) collided with a group of wild elephants crossing the East Coast Expressway 2 near the Cheneh Toll Plaza interchange. - September 14, 2026