Search ongoing for driver and SUV in Penang Bridge crash

GEORGE TOWN: The missing driver of a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) that plunged into the sea following a collision with another car on the Penang Bridge is believed to be a 20-year-old college student from Taman Kempas, Butterworth.Moey Yun Peng’s father lodged a missing person report at 4.59pm yesterday after being told that his son’s car had been involved in an accident on the bridge.

Central Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said they recorded statements from five people, including two friends of Moey’s.

He said an investigation revealed that Moey had just attended a birthday party on Penang island and could have been on his way home when the incident happened.

“Another witness also shared with us the dashcam recording of the incident,” he said.

It was earlier reported that the SUV was hit by a black car said to be travelling at high speed during the incident.

The impact overturned the SUV as it went over the guard rail and plunged into the sea.

Fateful stretch: A car involved in the accident on Penang Bridge.  

A 20-second video clip captured on a car dashcam showed the black car weaving into the slow lane from the fast lane at high speed.

The driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into Moey’s white SUV in the fast lane.

ACP Nik Ros said a badly damaged black car was found at the scene, adding that the driver, 21, had been sent to the hospital for treatment.

He said they are investigating the incident for reckless and dangerous driving under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

He added that once the SUV is located, the Penang Bridge authorities will be called in to pull the car out of the sea using a crane.

Meanwhile, Marine Police Region 1 commander Asst Comm Rosman Ismail said the search operation was called off at 7pm yesterday, adding that it will resume at 7am today.

It is learnt that rescuers dropped anchors and dragged them along the seabed to detect the wreckage. A fireman at the scene said the depth was about 20m.

The Fire and Rescue Department issued a statement saying two boats from the department, two boats from the Marine Police and one from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency were involved in the operation yesterday.

Prai Fire and Rescue Department chief Azlan Hassan said rescuers from his department and marine police conducted the search within a 15m radius.

“The difficulty is that we are experiencing strong currents,” he said yesterday.