Victim succumbs to injuries in Kota Kinabalu train accident, another in coma

KOTA KINABALU: One of the two victims injured in the collision with a train near the Petagas War Memorial here, has died.

Passenger Daniel Shafwan Omar, 21, succumbed to his injuries at about 4.30pm.

Daniel and his friend, Mohd Amir Khairi Abdul Ghani, 20, were travelling in a car when the vehicle collided with the train at a rail crossing at 1.05pm Wednesday (Sept 26).

Kota Kinabalu deputy police chief Supt George Rakhman said the car was heading to Jalan Kepayan from the War Memorial when the accident happened.

"The boom gate at the rail crossing was not activated and the victims were apparently unaware of the oncoming train.

"The train ploughed into the vehicle, and dragged it for 100m with the victims inside. It was raining heavily during the incident," he explained.

Supt George said the car driver, Mohd Amir Khairi, is still in a coma.

According to him, the two victims worked with a domestic airline.

Supt George advised the public to exercise caution while approaching a rail crossing, whether or not a boom gate was present.

Meanwhile, a trader in the area claimed that the boom gate has not been functioning properly.