KUANTAN: An intoxicated driver, drove against traffic flow for at least seven kilometres on the Kuantan Bypass stretch before crashing his vehicle into an oncoming motorist, killing him, last night.
Pahang Traffic Enforcement and Investigations Department chief Superintendent Kamarulzaman Jusoh said the 42-year-old fish wholesaler was believed to have been driving in the opposite lane of the road after exiting a traffic light junction at Semambu.
"After leaving his friend's house, he drove towards the Semambu traffic light junction before turning
towards the Kuantan bypass dual-carriageway. He then drove against the traffic flow on the fast lane and several oncoming vehicles were forced to swerve to the slow lane to avoid a collision.
"The suspect had driven about seven kilometres before the fatal accident when he crashed into an oncoming Toyota Yaris which killed the driver who was traveling to work," he told reporters at the accident scene near Bukit Rangin here today.
In the 9.20pm accident, Irwan Herman Kamarudin, 41, was killed after his Toyota Yaris was hit by the suspected 42-year-old drunk driver, who was driving a Toyota C-HR.
Irwan who was traveling to work in Gebeng near here was killed on the spot due to chest injuries sustained in the accident while the suspect escaped with light bruises.
The suspect is believed to have consumed alcohol at a friend's house in Semambu before getting behind the wheel of his vehicle.
Meanwhile, Kamarulzaman said police have opened two investigation papers against the suspect who has been remanded for investigations.
"Besides being probed under Section 44(1)(b) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death or injury while driving under the influence of alcohol, he faces investigations under Section 42(1) of the same act for reckless and dangerous driving.
"Besides the fatal accident, another motorist had also lodged a separate report claiming that the suspect's car had grazed his vehicle along the same stretch. The incident happened before the fatal accident," he said.
Meanwhile, magistrate Najwa Hashim granted a four day remand order against the suspect for police to complete their investigations.