A 66-year-old woman escaped with minor injuries after the SUV she was driving crashed through the glass doors of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Departure Hall last Friday.
Kota Kinabalu police chief ACP Shahrudin Mat Husain said the incident occurred at about 4.55pm, when the woman stopped her SUV along the vehicle lane outside the terminal to pick up her son.
The woman was reportedly in the process of switching drivers when she allegedly failed to engage the vehicle’s “P” (Park) gear, causing the SUV to slowly move forward.
Police said the driver then panicked and accidentally stepped on the accelerator, causing the vehicle to accelerate suddenly.
The SUV first collided with another vehicle before veering off the road and crashing through the glass doors of the departure hall. It subsequently struck a pillar inside the building.
The driver managed to escape from the vehicle but suffered minor facial injuries from flying glass fragments. She was later taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital I for further treatment.
Police are investigating the incident under Rule 10 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 (LN 166/59) under the Road Transport Act 1987.
Authorities have reminded motorists to ensure their vehicles are properly secured and placed in the correct gear before leaving the driver’s seat, particularly when switching drivers.
