KOTA KINABALU: A routine drive home for a father and his daughter became their last when they died in a freak accident near the Sepanggar port here.
They were travelling along the road when a crane carrying a shipping container tipped over, causing the container to fall on the car and crush them.
The incident happened at about 6.20pm on Sunday.
The 53-year-old man had just fetched his 24-year-old daughter from work and they were headed home.
Firefighters managed to extricate their bodies from the car at around 9.55pm.
A 49-year-old lorry driver has been remanded to facilitate investigations.
Meanwhile, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said a probe into the incident would also focus on whether the container was intentionally placed in the area or due to other unavoidable factors.
He said police are recording statements from witnesses and examining road safety aspects in the area.
“Although the container was placed at the roadside, its size and height could obstruct road users’ view and pose safety risks.
“Furthermore, the process of moving the container using heavy machinery could potentially cause traffic congestion,” he told reporters.
Comm Jauteh said police will also hold discussions with relevant agencies, including the port management, to find solutions to the problem of containers being left along the roadside.
He said the measure is important to ensure the safety of road users and prevent similar incidents from recurring.
