KOTA BELUD: A 10-year-old girl was killed and two other schoolchildren seriously injured when an intoxicated man lost control of his vehicle, which swerved and ploughed into the kids at Kampung Tempasuk 2 here, this morning.
Max Christty of SK Tempasuk 2 died at the scene in the 6.45am accident.
Meanwhile, Maxryona Masdi, 7, of SK Tempasuk 2; and Michelle Marianne David, 14, of SMK Pekan 1, suffered serious head injuries and are in critical condition.
It is learnt that the children had been standing by the roadside of Jalan Tempasuk 2, waiting for their transport to school, when the accident occurred.
Based on police’s preliminary investigations, the drunk driver – a 54-year-old farmer – was driving his Nissan Sentra from the town centre here to his home at Kampung Tempasuk 2 when he lost control of his vehicle.
“The (car) skidded and rammed into the children, before crashing into a concrete house nearby.
“The driver suffered only minor injuries. He received treatment at the district hospital before being arrested for suspected drunk driving,” said district police chief Superintendent Mohd Zaidi Abdullah.
District Fire and Rescue Department chief Rozlan Osman said that they received a distress call at 6.53am and despatched 10 firemen to the scene.
“The team found that the car had crashed into a villager’s house.
“One of the (children) was confirmed dead at the scene by personnel from the district hospital.
“The two other victims had been rushed to hospital by passers-by prior to the arrival of the firefighters,” Rozlan added.