People gather at the scene where an excavator was used to pull the lorry out of the river.
KENINGAU: A local man is feared swept away by strong currents when the truck he was driving plunged into the Sapulut River.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Robert Salisip @ David said the incident occurred at Kampung Tampulis in Sapulut, Nabawan, at around 2 pm on Monday when the wooden bridge the victim was driving on collapsed.
He said the victim, Lambutan Bin Esiu, 60, had not yet been found late yesterday.
Robert said the incident involved a 10-ton Nissan lorry owned by Syarikat Bidor Sawit Agricultural Development Sdn Bhd.
“The wooden bridge at Kampung Tampulis Labang Sapulut collapsed while the lorry was crossing it, causing the vehicle to fall into the river,” he said.
Robert said the truck was submerged as the water level had risen due to the rain.
He said at 5.30pm on Monday, a Fire and Rescue Department team from Keningau and Nabawan arrived on the scene to carry out a search operation but it was hampered by high water level, strong currents, heavy rain and darkness.
According to him, the search resumed at 10am the following day with assistance of personnel and equipment from the Fire and Rescue Department from Tenom, Papar and Kuala Penyu.
“A Komatsu PC200 excavator was used to pull the lorry out of the river at about 6pm on Tuesday but the victim was missing, believed to have been swept away,” he said.
Robert said a search and rescue operation involving seven policemen, including an officer, ten members of the Fire and Rescue Department and two village boats, was halted until 7.10pm yesterday due to darkness and heavy rain.
He said the operation will continue today.