KOTA KINABALU: Things could have ended a lot worse for two men if not for their quick reaction when bad weather caused a tree to fall on the four-wheel drive vehicle they were travelling in on Tuesday (Sept 17).
The men, both aged 62, collapsed their seats in time just before the incident at about 11.15am at Mile 2, Jalan Tuaran by-pass here.
Sabah Civil Defence Force (APM) deputy director Erwin@Elverowen Kinsui said both men sustained minor injuries but escaped potentially more serious hurt due to their quick reflexes.
He said the men were headed to Likas here from the city centre amid heavy rain and strong winds.
On reaching the location, he said, the driver spotted a tree on the roadside that was about to collapse.
“He could not avoid driving into the tree’s path and both he and his passenger quickly collapsed their seats as the trunk fell onto the vehicle,” he said when contacted.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said a six-man team was deployed to the scene to cut and remove the tree, adding the exercise ended at 2.07pm.
A substantial part of the 4WD vehicle was damaged as a result of the incident.
In another incident, three vehicles were damaged after a tree that was uprooted by strong winds fell on them at Jalan Yusang in Kepayan here the same day.
A fire department spokesman said they were alerted to the incident at 4.10pm, adding firemen were then rushed to the area.
He added that they sawed off the wood using chainsaws.
“No one was reported to be hurt in the incident,” he said, adding firemen finished removing the debris at 5.07pm.
