KOTA KINABALU: A truck driver was found dead after almost 18 hours of being trapped inside his vehicle following a mishap near Kg Nabutan in the Ranau district.
In the 8.30am accident on Thursday (Jan 23), the 30-year-old who was ferrying electric poles and concrete on the truck, had lost control and skidded off the road, plunging into a 50m deep ravine.
Following the mishap, he was trapped in dirt, said the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department.
The department received a distress call at around 8.41am, and help arrived at around 9.12am with firemen and other rescuers immediately trying to get as much dirt out of the front of the truck using special tools.
“However, they failed and had to wait for a crane to arrive from Kota Kinabalu,” said the department in a statement.
The crane arrived at 6pm, and there were at least three attempts to lift the truck but it was also unsuccessful.
Rescuers then switched to removing the 60 to 70 poles on the truck to lighten the load, before they managed to move the heavy vehicle.
It was after the loads were removed that firemen could continue digging the mud and earth out of the front where the driver was trapped in, and retrieve his body out at 2.50am.
The victim was declared dead by police and medical officials on site.
Also involved in the rescue efforts were police, workers from the company where the victim worked and his family members.
The body was handed over to police for further action while investigations into the cause of the accident are being carried out.
