Drunk driver rams van into motorcycle, car in Ipoh

IPOH: A driver under the influence of alcohol drove his van into a motorcycle, causing the rider and its pillion to fall, then reversed into another car before hitting a divider.

Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said the incident happened at 1.15am Sunday morning (May 26) at the Jalan Ashman Shah traffic lights junction here.

He said initial investigations revealed that the 44-year-old van driver, a local, was driving from Jalan Ashman Shah heading towards Jalan Raja Musa Aziz when he knocked into the motorcycle.

“He then reversed the van, knocked into another car before making a U-turn, and entered into Jalan Kamaruddin Isa.

“The van driver then hit a divider and lost control of the vehicle at Jalan Sybil Kathigasu nearby,” he said in a statement issued on Sunday.

ACP Abang Zainal Abidin said due to the accident, the two motorcyclists, aged 27 and 32, sustained light injuries and were sent to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital.

He said the driver of the van and the car did not sustain any injuries.

“The van driver has been arrested. A breathalyser test showed that the man had consumed alcohol beyond the allowed limit.

“Additionally, checks on the van driver’s record found that he has 20 traffic-related summonses.

“The case is being investigated under Section 44 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for driving under the influence of alcohol,” he added.

He said those who witnessed the accident could contact the investigating officer, Inspector Edwin Tang Chiew Song, at 016-5506863.