BINTULU: A trailer truck and a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) collided at KM42 of Bintulu-Miri Coastal Road on Wednesday afternoon.
Three of the 10 people onboard the Toyota Fortuner died on the spot while the rest were injured. The truck driver and his assistant were uninjured.
Those who died at the 1.40pm accident were all women and there were two children in the same vehicle.
Nine firemen were immediately despatched to the scene after receiving a call at 1.45pm.
The deceased – Gensa Unggau (36 years old), Nuai Bakar (23), and Lengidi Koling (57) – and the injured victims have been taken to Bintulu Hospital.
Those injured are Fhiymina Alicia Cendu Ngindang, 23, Billy Beti Jelaing, 5, Tera Bow, 56, Jelaing Bakar35, driver Ngindang Bau, 61, one-year-old Esther, and a seventh victim whose identity was still unverified.
State traffic police chief Superintendent Alexson Naga Chabu said the SUV which was going from Miri to Bintulu suddenly went out of control and veered to the opposite lane and crashed into the lorry.
The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
In view of the coming Gawai Dayak and Hari Raya Aidilfitri Alexson advised road users to be extra careful.
