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Members of the public working to ground the vehicle. Bernama Photos
KUCHING: The four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle that sank in Sungai Batang Lupar from the Triso ferry landing about 120 km from here is said to have lost control before plunging into the river and killed the nine people riding in it.
Sri Aman District Police Chief DSP Bingkok John, when contacted last night said that the Ford Ranger driven by a woman identified as Ronany Ting, 33, was heading to Kuching from Kapit via the Jalan Beladin route- Meludam.
“We believe the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to swerve and slide into the river,” he said.
According to him, the people who were in the jetty area managed to tie the vehicle with iron chains and ropes to prevent it from sinking before removing all the victims.
The victims were confirmed dead at the Beladin Health Clinic and the bodies would be taken to Sri Aman Hospital for an autopsy.
Sri Aman’s Traffic Control and Investigation Division is conducting investigations, he added.
In addition to the 4WD driver, three teenagers identified as 16-year-old Nor Shuhada Mohamad (female) were also killed in the 3 pm incident. Siti Aisha Abdullah, 36; Khairunnisa Muhamad, 14 (female); Alvin Phang, 12 (male) and three children, Wallace Phang and Mohd Aiman Mohd Hamdan, both seven years old, and Muhd Mustaqim Mohd Hamdan, five.
The tragedy also claimed the life of a baby, Mohd Ahmad Mohd Hamdan.
Meanwhile, Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and prayed that the funeral arrangements went smoothly.
Rohani said that one of his representatives had met with the victims’ families at the Beladin Health Clinic to convey his condolences while they waited for the ambulance to take the bodies to Sri Aman Hospital.
“I also hope that all Triso ferry users are careful on their trips, especially those on long trips. Always prioritize yours and that of your family ”, said in a statement that Bernama receives here. – Bernama
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