Traffic cop hit by drunk driver in JB, fractures hip

JOHOR BARU: A traffic policeman has been seriously injured after he was hit by a car driven by a suspect who was drunk at KM3.6 Jalan Pantai here.

Johor Baru South district police chief ACP Raub Selamat said the policeman, in his 30s, suffered a fractured left hip and injuries to his face, chin and right hand in the 7.05am incident on Sunday (July 14).

The policeman was directing traffic after an earlier accident involving a car went off the road.

However, he said as the crashed car was being towed, another which came from behind suddenly switched lanes and hit the policeman who was standing next to the tow truck.

"The impact sent the victim crashing onto the front windscreen of the towed car and he fell on the middle of the road," he said in a statement.

Raub said the motorist, a man in his 30s, only injured his left hand.

"Tests showed the driver had consumed alcohol while urine tests showed no trace of drugs.

"The case is being investigated under Section 44(1A)(B) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury," he said.

He also urged any witnesses to go to the JBS district police headquarters to assist in the investigation or contact investigating officer Insp Kelly Lee Ya Yek at 014-697 7122. – Bernama