SERIAN: A 70-year-old man succumbed to severe head injuries in a fatal hit-and-run incident along KM45, Jalan Kuching-Serian on Wednesday.
Serian Police chief DSP Neil Beginda said police received a report about the incident at 11.20 pm.
The accident involved a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.
“Upon investigation, police found the victim, identified as 70-year-old Hanggu Bahda from Kampung Sampun Kelili, Asajaya, lying near the guardrail on the right side of the road heading towards Serian.
“Fragments of the vehicle’s rear-view mirror and license plate were also found at the scene,” he said in a statement yesterday (Dec 19).
He added the victim suffered severe head injuries and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics from Serian Hospital.
The victim’s body was later sent to the hospital for further action. The victim’s niece later filed a police report, confirming the identity of the deceased.
Meanwhile, the driver of the pickup truck, a 63-year-old man, came to the Serian Police Station to file a report at 11.56 am the following day.
“Initial investigations revealed that the driver was travelling in the right lane from Kuching to Serian at around 8.50 pm when he hit something on the road, though he was unsure what it was.
“After stopping about 2km away to check for damage, he was informed by other motorists that his vehicle had been struck by an object. He then continued driving, unaware that he had hit a pedestrian,” he added.
The pickup truck sustained damage to the front right bumper, headlamp, rearview mirror, fender, and license plate.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which deals with reckless driving causing death.
