IPOH: A 41-year-old road maintenance worker was killed after a detached telecommunications cable hit him at KM71 of Jalan Gerik-Kuala Kangsar in Gerik.
Gerik OCPD Supt Abdul Samad Othman said the victim suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead on the spot on Saturday (Nov 14 ) at about 1.30pm.
He said the dump body of a truck got caught on some telecommunications cable that was hanging across the road as it was returning to its nesting position.
He explained that this caused the cable to be pulled, slacken, and hang at a level lower than its original height.
"A trailer carrying a paddy-processing machine, travelling from Gerik towards Kuala Kangsar, passed through the location and caught the hanging cable, causing it to detach.
"The cable then hit the worker who was conducting road resurfacing works," he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act.
"The body was brought to the Gerik Hospital mortuary department for post-mortem, while the trailer was sent to be checked at a Puspakom centre.
"Police have inspected the location, including taking photographs of the site and vehicles involved," he said.
Supt Abdul Samad advised motorists to always be careful and be aware of their surroundings, especially when passing by an area where resurfacing work is being conducted.
