KENINGAU: Two cyclists were killed in a road accident at Kilometer 3 Keningau-Apin-Apin road here on Thursday night.
District police Chief Deputy Superintendent Robert Salisip @ David said that one of the victims, identified as Johari Ajong, 28, a farmer from Kampung Fontas Nabawan, died at the scene.
The other victim, Damianus Pani Antonius, 41, a laborer and passport holder from Kampung Tiga Tayar here suffered severe head injuries and died at the Keningau hospital at 10:15 am yesterday (December 20).
“The fatal accident involving two vehicles and two bicycles happened at about 9:12 pm on Thursday.
“One of the vehicles, a Hilux, was driven by a 39-year-old government official from Bingkor town heading to Keningau town,” he said.
Robert said that upon reaching KM 3 Keningau-Apin-Apin road, an Avanza vehicle driven by a 49-year-old man who moves the right route skidded into the way of the Hilux, which then hit the right end of the Avanza and crashed into the street light poles on the road divider.
According to him, early investigations revealed that the two vehicles were moving from the same direction. However on reaching the scene of the accident the Avanza driver lost control of the vehicle, skidded and hit the two cyclists moving from the opposite direction.
“Based on investigations at the scene, one of the victims died on the road shoulder amid Avanza vehicle debris, including a breakdown of light and other ranks of the victim while the Hilux avoid colliding with a Avanza vehicle at the time of the incident crashed into an electricity pole on the same side of the road,” he said.
He said the road was a straight double carriageway and that it was raining heavily at the time of the accident. The case is being investigated under section 41 (1) of Road Transport Act 1987.