TELUK INTAN: A teenage girl's desire to continue her studies at a polytechnic was shattered when she was run over by a car after falling off her motorcycle at Jalan Ipoh-Lumut, near Ipoh, yesterday.
The deceased, Norkiasatina Najwa Shahrel Azwan, 18, was supposed to enroll at Sultan Azlan Shah Polytechnic, Behrang, near Tanjung Malim this Monday.
Her father, Shahrel Azwan Sulaiman, 45, said the eldest of four siblings was very excited to enrol for her Diploma in Electronic Engineering (Computer) program at the polytechnic.
The Tapah prison officer said the victim fondly called 'kakak' was very happy to continue her studies. I even bought the necessary items including new clothes for her to use at the campus on Monday.
"My wife and I (Norizad Md Yusof, 45 who works as a teacher) also applied leave to send her on Monday.
"Never imagined in my mind... we would lose her like this... but we accept her fate," he said when met in Kampung Bahagia, today.
He said at the time of the incident, Norkiasatina was out with her friend and both rode different motorcycles.
"I found out about the accident when my brother called me and said police had come to the house looking for her next of kin at our house in Padang Tembak, Teluk Intan.
"My wife and I rushed to Batu Gajah Hospital for the identification process and took her remains home on Wednesday evening," he said adding that she was laid to rest at Kampung Bahagia Cemetery, yesterday.
Meanwhile, Norizad sought help from road users who happen to pass by the scene of the incident and have dashboard or 'dashcam' footage to assist the police with the investigation.
When asked if they were contemplating action against the authorities for the pothole which had caused the crash, Shahrel Azwan said they have not thought about it.
Yesterday, Ipoh District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad reportedly said that the incident happened at around 1.05pm involving an 18-year-old victim who was riding a motorcycle and a 40-year-old woman driving a car.
He said initial investigation found that the accident occurred when the victim riding a Honda EX5 motorcycle heading to Batu Gajah from Ipoh hit a pothole on the left shoulder of the road and then lost control. The victim then fell on the road and was run over by the car.
"The case is being investigated according to Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 987 which is causing death due to reckless or dangerous driving," he said.