TAWAU: A tragic accident unfolded early this morning when a man was killed after an iron road barricade crashed through the pick-up truck he was in, sending the vehicle plunging into the river at Batu 2 Jalan Apas at 5.20am.
The victim, identified as Mohd Azrul Shah Abraham, 31, was declared dead while receiving emergency treatment in the critical care unit of Tawau Hospital.
He was the front passenger in the Isuzu Dmax vehicle.
According to Tawau police chief Assistant Commissioner Jasmin Hussin, initial investigations indicate that Mohd Azrul and the driver were travelling from Jalan Apas to Pasar Ikan Tawau, carrying an estimated 1.5 tonnes of various types of fish.
Upon arriving at the scene, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, veering off to the left side of the road before colliding with a metal barrier and plunging into the river.
"The driver sustained only minor injuries and was rescued by bystanders, while the victim was trapped inside the vehicle and suffered severe injuries. He was extricated by the Fire and Rescue Department, and both individuals were subsequently transported to the hospital by ambulance," he said.
The driver, aged 31, has since been arrested and is facing investigation under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless or dangerous driving resulting in death.