A late-night journey in Johor took a frightening turn when a motorist’s vehicle collided with an elephant calf before plunging into a deep ravine, leaving the driver trapped inside the wreckage and requiring a swift rescue operation by firefighters.
The incident unfolded in the early hours along Jalan Felda Nitar in Kampung Pengkalan Bukit Asli, Kluang, while the 31-year-old man was driving towards Felda Nitar in Kahang. The impact of the collision caused the car to veer off course and fall into a ravine estimated to be about five metres deep.
Emergency responders were alerted at around 2.28am, prompting a deployment of nine firefighters from the Mersing Fire and Rescue Station. The team arrived at the scene approximately 35 minutes later, covering a distance of about 27 kilometres.
Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Alias Hussin said the operation focused on safely extricating the driver from the badly damaged vehicle. The rescue effort was carried out under challenging conditions due to the terrain and the extent of the crash.
The injured motorist was eventually pulled out and immediately transported to Hospital Mersing for medical treatment. He is reported to have sustained injuries to his legs following the accident.
Incidents involving wildlife crossing roads continue to pose significant risks to motorists, particularly in areas near forest reserves and plantation routes where animal movement is common. Authorities often remind road users to exercise extra caution when travelling at night in such locations.
At present, there has been no official update on the condition of the elephant calf involved in the collision. However, video clips circulating among motorists later suggested that the animal may not have survived the impact.
