Man stands in traffic after fender-bender, dies after being hit by third car near Lahad Datu

KOTA KINABALU: A man who walked out of his car after it collided with another vehicle died after being hit by an oncoming car along Mile 35 of the Lahad Datu-Sandakan road, just after midnight on Sunday (June 16).

The 38-year-old victim had apparently stood in the middle of the road after the accident when he was hit by a car heading to Sandakan from Lahad Datu at 12.30am.

Lahad Datu district police chief Asst Comm Dzulbaharin Ismail said the victim was driving the car with a 30-year-old passenger, bound for Sandakan from Lahad Datu, when it skidded and veered into the opposite lane.

Their car then collided with another vehicle driven by a 49-year-old man from the opposite direction.

The impact caused the victim’s car to spin towards the Lahad Datu direction before coming to rest in the middle of the road, while the other vehicle skidded to the left side of the road.

“Both the victim and his passenger exited the car.

"Another vehicle, driven by a 47-year-old man, travelling from Lahad Datu towards Sandakan, suddenly hit the victim who was standing in the middle of the road," said Dzulbaharin.

The victim succumbed to his injuries at the scene and was pronounced dead by health officials.

According to him, the deceased has been sent to Lahad Datu district hospital for a post-mortem, adding that others involved in the accident escaped unhurt.

"Blood samples have been taken from the victim, the passenger, and the drivers of the two other vehicles and will be sent to the Lahad Datu Chemistry Department for alcohol and drug testing," he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Dzulbaharin called on any eyewitnesses to the incident to contact the traffic investigation officer at the Lahad Datu District Police Headquarters, Inspector Humaidi Harun, at 089-881255 or to go directly to the office.