A 25-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a horrific late-night road accident after his motorcycle collided with a four-wheel-drive vehicle along Jalan Papar–Kota Kinabalu near Kampung Meruntum on Tuesday.
The fatal crash occurred at approximately 11.10pm, with medical personnel at the scene later confirming the victim’s death.
Penampang Deputy District Police Chief Deputy Superintendent Erwansyah Abdul Basir said preliminary investigations indicated that the victim’s motorcycle had struck the rear of the four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The impact threw the rider into the right lane of the road, leaving him with severe injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and passenger of the four-wheel-drive vehicle escaped unharmed.
However, the incident took a dramatic turn when investigators discovered that the four-wheel-drive vehicle involved in the crash had been abandoned about 1.5 kilometres from the accident site.
Further investigations revealed that the vehicle was subsequently set on fire by an unknown individual after the collision. Authorities are now working to determine who was responsible for torching the vehicle and whether the act was linked to the fatal crash.
The shocking development has raised questions surrounding the circumstances of the incident, with police continuing their investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the accident or possesses relevant information to contact investigating officer Inspector Saparia Ladoni at 019-809 5133 to assist with the inquiry.
Authorities have also appealed to the public not to share photographs of the victim or the accident scene out of respect for the grieving family during this difficult time.
