KUALA LUMPUR: An 18-year-old college student died after being struck by a car while attempting to retrieve his helmet that had fallen on the MEX Highway earlier today.
Serdang police chief Assistant Commissioner A.A. Anbalagan said the incident occurred at 11.35am at KM18.4 of the highway in the Kuala Lumpur-bound direction towards Putrajaya.
"The motorcyclist, a vocational college student from Setapak, was reportedly attempting to retrieve his helmet that had fallen onto the far-right lane of the highway.
"It is believed that the victim was struck by a Perodua Bezza traveling in the rightmost lane while he tried to cross over," he said in a statement.
Anbalagan said the collision caused the victim to be thrown against the metal guardrail before landing in the opposite lane heading towards Kuala Lumpur.
He suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel from Hospital Serdang, he said.
The driver of the car was unharmed in the incident.
"The victim's body has been sent to Hospital Serdang's forensic unit for a post-mortem.
"Police have classified the case under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which pertains to causing death by reckless or dangerous driving," he said.
Motorists are advised to exercise extra caution on highways and adhere to road safety rules to prevent such tragedies.