BACHOK: A joy ride by seven children on a three-wheeled motorcycle ended in tragedy when one of them, a 13-month-old toddler, drowned after the bike fell into an irrigation canal here yesterday evening.
District police chief Superintendent Mohamad Ismail Jamaluddin said that a 12-year-old was the rider of the motorcycle during the incident, which took place at Kampung Tok Belian near Pengkalan Petah at 7.20pm.
"The seven were returning to the boy's home when the incident happened.
"They were passing a bridge when suddenly the rider of the motorcycle lost control of the bike and fell into the four-metre deep canal."
Ismail said firemen who rushed to the scene later, discovered the toddler's body 8.20pm.
The body of the baby girl was later sent to Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian for post-mortem.
"Initial investigation showed that the motorcycle's road tax had expired," he added.
The case, he said, is being investigated under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001 and Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Mohamad did not elaborate on whether any arrests were made in connection with the case.