Singaporeans among those killed, injured in Sabah crash
Two people were killed after a crash involving a trailer lorry and a tour van.
A tour van collided with a trailer in an accident in Sabah, Malaysia on Mar 11, 2024. (Photo: Facebook/Balai Bomba Dan Penyelamat Semporna, Sabah)
SEMPORNA: A Singaporean man was among two people killed after a crash involving a trailer lorry and a tour van in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Monday afternoon (Mar 11).
The driver of a trailer lorry is believed to have lost control of his vehicle, entering the opposite lane and causing the collision in Semporna, said District Police Chief Supt Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah.
The tour van was carrying six Singaporean and Vietnamese tourists. Two of them - a 60-year-old Singaporean man and a 40-year-old Vietnamese woman - died.
The tour van driver, a 42-year-old Malaysian man, and four Singaporean passengers were seriously injured and taken to Tawau Hospital, said Mohd Farhan.
Semporna Fire and Rescue Station chief Mazlan Sarman said in an earlier statement that an 11-year-old girl was among the injured passengers.
The trailer driver, a 29-year-old Malaysian man, was unhurt. He was later arrested to assist with investigations.
Photos released by the Semporna fire and rescue department show the overturned tour van, with its windscreen shattered and roof partially crushed.
The impact of the collision also caused debris to fly into the glass screen of a box truck that was travelling behind the trailer.
In response to CNA's queries, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday it has been rendering consular assistance and support, via the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, to the affected Singaporeans and their families.
It added that officials from the High Commission have been in close contact with Sabah authorities and are in the city of Tawau to provide further assistance.
"MFA extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wishes the injured Singaporeans a smooth and speedy recovery."
