MIRI: A senior citizen was killed after the four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle he was driving overturned into a roadside ditch along Pan Borneo Highway, near Rumah Panjang Michael in Suai here, today.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the Batu Niah fire station received a distress call at 11:25 am regarding a road traffic accident involving a silver Toyota Hilux Revo and immediately dispatched a team of firefighters to the scene located approximately 59 kilometres away.
“Upon arrival, the operation commander and his team found the 4WD vehicle overturned in a ditch, believed to be involved in a self-accident while travelling from Bintulu towards Batu Niah.
“Firefighters initiated a rescue operation using road traffic accident (RTA) equipment to access the vehicle.
“However, the process was hindered due to the left and right doors being tightly wedged against the ditch walls,” said the statement today.
They added that the team then sought assistance from a towing service to reposition the vehicle.
“Once the vehicle was moved, rescuers successfully cut open the vehicle door using RTA tools and discovered the 71-year-old victim trapped inside,” they added.
The victim, identified as Lee Boon Tat, was extracted and pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
His body was handed over to the police for further action.
After ensuring the area was safe and clean, the operation concluded at 1:45 pm.
