SARIKEI: Three men were killed and another was injured after two pickup trucks collided near a P-turn along the Pan Borneo Highway here last night (July 4).
The deceased were identified as Vincent Engan Tula, 33, Stevenson Sigau Ujang Satin, 20, and Muhammad Saerozi, 41, an Indonesian national.
The driver of the other pickup truck, a 40-year-old local man, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Sarikei Hospital for treatment.
Sarikei police chief Supt Aswandy Anis said they were alerted of the crash involving two Toyota Hilux pickup trucks at KM431 of Jalan Bulat (Pan Borneo) at around 9 pm.
“Preliminary investigations found that the white Hilux, driven by the 40-year-old man, was travelling from Sibu towards Sarikei when it collided with the black Hilux driven by the victims.
“It was understood that the black Hilux was making a U-turn at a designated P-turn before it is believed to have suddenly entered the main carriageway.
“The white Hilux was unable to avoid the vehicle and crashed into its left side,” he said.
The impact threw one of the occupants from the black pickup truck, while the remaining two were trapped inside the mangled vehicle.
Firefighters from Sarikei station used hydraulic rescue equipment to extricate the trapped victims before they were handed over to paramedics, who pronounced all three dead at the scene.
Aswandy said investigations indicate the crash is believed to have occurred after the driver making the U-turn entered the main road without ensuring it was safe to do so.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact investigating officer Insp Ahmad Mustaqim at 010-442 7241 or the Sarikei Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division.
