ROAD accidents frequently capture public attention when they go viral on social media. These incidents often lead to speculations, with many quick to assign blame or circulate unverified details. Recently, it was reported that an intoxicated driver was responsible for a car-motorcycle collision in Muar. Is this true?
Verdict:
FALSE
Johor police have denied allegations circulating on social media that a drunk driver was responsible for a road accident in Muar, which left a teenage motorcyclist seriously injured.
Muar OCPD Asst Comm Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the incident occurred at 9.40pm on Wednesday (March 12) along Jalan Muar-Batu Pahat near Sungai Balang Besar and involved a collision between a car and a motorcycle.
“Initial investigations revealed that the crash happened when a 67-year-old local man had stopped his car on the left shoulder of the road before attempting to merge into traffic.
“As he moved forward, a 16-year-old motorcyclist travelling in the same direction collided into the right front door of the vehicle,” he said on Thursday (March 13).
ACP Raiz Mukhliz added that the impact caused the driver to lose control, resulting in the vehicle veering to the right and crashing into a shop house.
He said the teenage motorcyclist suffered serious leg injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Muar Hospital, while the car driver was unharmed.
“Following the accident, a viral video surfaced on Facebook claiming that the driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
“However, police have confirmed that the driver tested negative for both alcohol and drugs in preliminary screenings,” he said, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
ACP Raiz Mukhliz urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information that could disrupt public order.
