Tragedy struck at Mile 24, Jalan Musah Kajah near Kanowit yesterday evening when a pickup truck plunged 10 metres into a ravine, killing an 80-year-old man and injuring another passenger. The victim, identified as Berain Sinau, was pinned beneath the overturned vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba).
The injured passenger was rushed to Kanowit Hospital by passing motorists, while the driver and two other passengers managed to escape without injuries. Bomba said they received the distress call at 7.50pm and dispatched a team of seven firefighters in a pickup truck. They were joined by two police four-wheel-drive vehicles for the 46-kilometre journey to the remote location.
Upon arrival at 9.23pm, rescue personnel found the vehicle at the bottom of the ravine. Due to the challenging terrain, assistance was sought from a nearby logging company to use a bulldozer to create a temporary access path. The vehicle was later towed to a safe area.
Bomba confirmed that the body of the deceased was successfully extricated and handed over to police for further investigation. The entire operation concluded at 12.50am today.
