Two friends killed after vehicle crashes into tree in Sandakan

Firemen pulling out one of the victims from the wreckage.

KOTA KINABALU: Two friends were killed after the four-wheel drive vehicle they were travelling in crashed into a tree in Sabah’s east coast Sandakan district early Tuesday (March 21).

In the 1.15am incident, Raynerd Noell Tan, 21, who was at the wheel, died on the spot following the mishap at Mile 5 Jalan Utara.

His passenger friend, whose identity had not been ascertained at press time, also aged 22, succumbed to serious injuries while receiving treatment at the Duchess of Kent Hospital.

“They were headed from Mile 4 to Taman Mawar when the vehicle veered out of control and hit a road divider before crashing into a tree,” said Sandakan OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Fuad Abdul Malek in a statement here.

“Due to the impact, the driver was killed on the spot while the passenger was pronounced dead at the hospital,” he added.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Meanwhile, a Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said nine firemen as well as the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) unit were rushed to the location following a distress call.

He said the responders had to free the victims who were trapped in the car, adding that medical officers confirmed the driver had died at the scene.

The operation ended at 1.49am, the spokesman added.

In another incident, a 53-year-old man was hurt and another passenger escaped without injuries after the 1.5-tonne lorry they were travelling crashed off-road in at Jalan Semporna Nagus in the east coast Semporna district.

A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said passers-by helped the victims out of the lorry following the accident at 7am.

“The injured victim was given initial treatment by the EMRS unit before being sent to the district hospital,” he said.