The plan of two GrabFood delivery riders to have a meal together ended in tragedy when one of them was killed after their motorcycle skidded into a drain along Jalan Sungai Udang–Tangga Batu.
The accident, which occurred around 5 p.m. yesterday, claimed the life of Muhammad Azli Syah Mohd Sobri, 20, who was riding a Honda RSX motorcycle from Sungai Udang towards Tangga Batu. He was reportedly on his way to have dinner with his friend, Muhammad Shafiq Sahadan, 26, who was riding pillion.
According to Melaka Tengah District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Patit, initial investigations revealed that a 66-year-old retired soldier was driving a van in the same direction.
“As the van driver slowed down to make a left turn into Medan Niaga Sungai Udang, the victim’s motorcycle attempted to overtake from the left side and lost control before plunging into the drain,” he said in a statement today.
The crash caused the rider to suffer severe injuries, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. His body was sent to the Forensic Medicine Department at Hospital Melaka for a post-mortem examination. The pillion rider sustained injuries to his left leg and was taken to Hospital Melaka for treatment, while the van driver escaped unharmed.
Police believe the crash occurred when the motorcycle tried to overtake from the left and lost control. The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
Both vehicles have been seized for technical inspection at PUSPAKOM, and authorities are currently locating witnesses and reviewing dashcam and CCTV footage from the area to aid the investigation.
A 21-second video and several photos of the incident went viral on WhatsApp, showing the victim’s body — still wearing a helmet and covered with a prayer mat — lying in the drain, while another injured man was seen sitting by the roadside being comforted by bystanders as they awaited an ambulance.
