KUCHING: Two persons died after a Toyota Hilux ferrying seven people plunged into a ravine late Thursday.
In the 6.30pm accident along Jalan Kampung Kambug, Padawan, one of the deceased died on the spot while the other at a nearby clinic.
Sarawak Head of Traffic, Superintendent Alexson Naga Chabu, said earlier, the driver was sending his brother and newly graduated relative to another village.
Supt Alexson said the driver was on his return trip to Kuching when the accident occurred.
The driver Terence, 56, from Kampung Biya Jaber, lost control of the wheel while cornering. Terence sustained injuries on his legs.
Supt Alexson said the car crashed out of the road and plunged into a 20-metre ravine.
Sarik Susis, 55, from Kampung Paing Bojong, Ulu Bengoh, died on the spot and Boy Gaus, 45, from Kpg Taba Sait, Bengoh, died later at the clinic.
Except for two, who sustained minor injuries, the rest of the passengers suffered leg, neck and body injuries. They were brought to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for treatment by an ambulance called to the scene.
The remains of the deceased were also brought to the SGH morgue for post-mortem.
Meanwhile, in Marudi, two Penan women and a Kelabit man were killed after their vehicle plunged into a ravine at Lio Matu, Baram.
The crash site is reachable via a 12-hour journey on logging road from Marudi.
Supt Alexson said the car fell about 100 metres down.
“The bodies were discovered by villagers who drove past the area and a report on the incident was only made today (yesterday) due to the situation at the crash location,” he said when contacted.
He said the trio was travelling in the single cab Toyota Hilux driven by the Kelabit man, who was identified as Kebing Pasang, 43.
The women were identified as Ubong Lah, 74, and Tok Dop, 60.
Their bodies have been taken to Miri Hospital’s morgue for a post-mortem.
Supt Alexson said both the Kuching and Marudi cases are being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
