SARATOK: An 85-year-old woman died after she was struck by a van in a road accident along the Pan Borneo Highway near Nanga Assam here this morning (March 26).
The incident occurred around 9.45 am at Kilometre 402.4 of the highway heading towards Sarikei and involved a Toyota Hiace van and the elderly pedestrian.
Saratok Police Chief, DSP Mathew Manggie, said the victim, an Iban woman from Saratok, was believed to have been crossing the road from the central divider towards the left side of the road when the accident occurred.
“The driver, a 77-year-old man from Sarikei, was travelling towards Sarikei along the left lane when he attempted to avoid the pedestrian.
“However, due to the close distance, he was unable to do so and collided with the victim,” he said in a statement.
Mathew added that the victim sustained severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Her body was later taken to Saratok Hospital for a post-mortem. The driver, who works as a vegetable deliveryman, was uninjured. The van sustained damage to its front windscreen and right front bumper,” he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
