IPOH: An Orang Asli man was injured after being dragged by an elephant and falling into a ravine along Jalan Kampung Pengkalan Permai in the Air Banun Resettlement Scheme (RPS) in Gerik on Saturday (Dec 13).
Gerik OCPD Supt Abdul Samad Othman said police received a report on the incident at 4.26pm.
“Investigations revealed that at approximately 9.30am on the same day, two motorcycles, ridden by three Orang Asli men, set out to collect forest produce, he said in a statement on Sunday (Dec 14)
He said that the 34-year-old brother of the 30-year-old driver of the second motorcycle drove the first motorcycle. The second motorcycle also had a Pillion rider.
Upon reaching the incident site, the first rider, who was in front, spotted an elephant by the roadside and accelerated to pass it.
“However, the second motorcycle was unable to get past the elephant in time. The rider stopped the motorcycle to save himself, but the elephant suddenly dragged him, causing him to fall into a ravine.
“The pillion rider managed to escape while the second rider sustained injuries to his face and body and was referred to Taiping Hospital for treatment,” he said.
Supt Abdul Samad added that the first rider and the pillion rider were uninjured.
He advised road users to be more cautious when travelling along roads in the RPS Air Banun area, Gerik, as wild animals may cross or be present on the road.
On Wednesday (Dec 10), a motorcyclist escaped unharmed after crashing into an elephant, with the animal damaging the vehicle at KM31 of the East West Highway near Tasik Banding.
