DUNGUN: A seven-month-old baby boy died after the sports utility vehicle (SUV) he was in fell into a water catchment area due to heavy rain at Kilometre 372 on the East Coast Expressway Two (LPT2), near Bukit Besi, yesterday.
Mohammad Adam Rayyan Abdul Rahim was confirmed dead while receiving treatment at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) in Kuala Terengganu at 12.25 noon today.
Dungun police chief, Superintendent Maizura Abdul Kadir, said the vehicle driven by Mohammad Taufik Babge, 34, with his wife, Hamizah Mustapha, 35, and stepbrother Nik Muhammad Ariff Al-Iman Nik Mohd Azmi, 20, and a child, Faresh Rayyan Abdul Rahim, 11, skidded after hitting a puddle and plunged into the water catchment area beside the highway.
He stated that Mohammad Taufik, a technician residing in Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah, Melaka, was driving a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport on the way from Ajil towards Kuantan.
"All of them in the vehicle were believed to be travelling from Kota Baru to return to Pengerang, Johor.
"As they arrived at the scene, the vehicle is believed to have hit a puddle, causing loss of control, before skidding off the road and crashing into the highway guardrail," he said.
Following that, Maizura said the vehicle then fell into a water-filled embankment due to heavy rain.
"All the victims inside the vehicle, however, were successfully rescued by highway users passing through the area.
"Mohammad Taufik suffered injuries to both legs, Hamizah suffered minor injuries to her legs and chest, while Nik Muhammad Ariff Al-Iman and Faresh Rayyan suffered injuries to their chests," he said.
He mentioned that all the victims were taken to Hulu Terengganu Hospital for further treatment.
"Mohammad Adam Rayyan was later taken to HSNZ and confirmed dead while receiving treatment today.
"The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987," he said.