Rescuers attending to victims of the crash.
KOTA KINABALU: Three people died while three others are in serious condition after an accident along Jalan Sandau Lahad Datu-Sandakan.
The mishap was believed to have occurred at around 3pm on Thursday (Oct 9) when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which swerved off the road and overturned.
Lahad Datu fire station chief Sumsoa Rashid said the deceased have been identified as Erna Jamalddin, 36; Harlina, 38; and Rajuddin, 41.
"Medical officials pronounced them dead at the scene while three others, Sudirman, 43, Marani Halaking, 46, and a woman in her 40s sustained severe injuries,” he said in a statement on Friday (Oct 10).
He said they received a distress call at 3.05pm.
Sumsoa said that upon arrival, the team found a wrecked car which had turned turtle.
"All six victims were trapped in the car," he said, adding that firemen had to use special rescue tools to extricate the victims.
He said the bodies of the deceased were turned over to the police for further action, while the severely injured victims were sent to Hospital Lahad Datu for emergency treatment.
Sumsoa added that the cause of the accident is still being determined.
