KOTA KINABALU: A car driver and passenger have escaped serious injury – and possibly death – when they took quick action after they realised there was no way to avoid a tree from falling on their vehicle here on Wednesday (Sept 18).
In the 11.15am incident, the duo, both 62, were travelling from Kota Kinabalu to Likas on the Tuaran road during heavy rain.
As they neared the area, they saw a tree falling and quickly reclined their seats and lay as far down in the vehicle as possible.
Sabah Civil Defence Department deputy director Lt Kol (PA) Erwin @ Elverowen Kinsui said they received a distress call at 11.25am and sent a team to respond.
"The victims were travelling from the city and the weather was terrible. As they neared the location where the tree was falling, they knew they would be unable to avoid getting hit," he said in a statement.
"So they decided to recline their seats to minimise the impact. Luckily, their quick thinking paid off because they did not sustain major injuries," he said.
The two were still pinned to their seats and firemen at the scene had to use chainsaws to get them out.
The two victims were then sent to the hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department said they received 23 calls about fallen trees up to 3pm on Wednesday.
Among these were five cases in Kota Kinabalu, four in Penampang, three in Tenom and Kuala Penyu, two in Papar, and one each in Sook, Kota Belud, Sipitang, Tuaran, Putatan and Kudat.
