A 17-year-old Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidate was killed, while his friend suffered serious injuries after a falling coconut tree crushed the motorcycle they were riding during heavy rain and strong winds in Kampung Permatang Pasir Gunung, Bachok, on Thursday evening.
The tragic incident occurred at around 6pm along a canal road near paddy fields. The rider, Nik Mohd Haikal Abd Rahim, died at the scene after sustaining severe head injuries when the tree suddenly collapsed onto the motorcycle.
His pillion passenger, Ahmad Iqbal Mukmin, also 17, suffered serious injuries to his head, neck and lower back. He was rushed to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) Kubang Kerian for emergency treatment.
Bachok District Police Chief Superintendent Mohamad Ismail Jamaluddin confirmed that police had received a report on the incident. He said the victim’s body was taken to Hospital Bachok for a post-mortem examination, while the injured teenager remains under medical care.
Initial information indicates that the two teenagers were travelling along the village route when a coconut tree was brought down by powerful winds, striking them without warning. The sudden weather change is believed to have lasted only about five minutes before the fatal accident occurred.
The incident has shocked the local community, as the road is commonly used by villagers and school students travelling through the area.
Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) head Nor Azman Mohamad, 52, said this was the first recorded incident of a tree falling along the route and causing a fatality. He also revealed that Ahmad Iqbal had been carrying a crutch on the motorcycle because he was still recovering from a broken leg sustained in an earlier accident.
Authorities are investigating the incident, while the tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather, particularly when travelling near large trees during storms.
