KUCHING: Police are investigating the case of a car that plunged into Sarawak River on Wednesday under the Road Transport Act 1987, after the driver was believed to be under the influence of drugs.
Kuching Police chief, ACP Alexson Naga Chabu, said the incident happened at around 6:40 pm when a BMW i7 xDrive60 vehicle went out of control and crashed into a concrete divider on the bridge along Jalan Matang.
He added that the vehicle then veered left, crossed into the opposite lane and rammed into a metal barrier before plunging into the river.
“The driver, a local man in his 30s, was taken to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for further treatment.
“Meanwhile, his front-seat passenger, in his 40s, was taken to Gita police station for safety purposes.
“Another passenger, seated at the back, managed to flee the scene and has yet to be identified,” he said in a statement.
Alexson said the case is being investigated under Section 44(1)(a) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for driving under the influence of drugs.
The offence carries imprisonment of up to 10 years, and a fine up to RM50,000, upon conviction.
He urged those with information on the incident to contact Traffic Investigating Officer, SM Hamdan Marali, at 013-8452684, Kuching District Police Headquarters at 082-259900, or the nearest police station.
Members of the public are reminded to always drive carefully and obey traffic laws to prevent accidents and other unforeseen risks.
