By FARDY BUNGGA
KOTA KINABALU: A man who was reported missing after the car he was driving plunged into a large ditch on Jalan Pan Borneo near Kampung Kawakaan, here, on Thursday evening, was found dead.
The victim, 27-year-old Benny Chen Chun Hwa, who was believed to have been swept away by strong currents, was found about two kilometres from his Honda WR-V car at 10.30am yesterday.
The victim’s body was found by the fire brigade, which conducted a search and rescue operation after receiving a report of the incident.
Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Kota Kinabalu Zone Chief, Johari Dzulkiflie said his department received a call regarding the accident at 4.55 pm on Thursday.
He said a team of officers were dispatched to the location and found a Honda WR-V that had skidded off the road before plunging into a ditch.
“A search was conducted inside the vehicle and the surrounding area, however, the victim was not found.
“The fire brigade and the police then conducted a search around the location, but the operation had to be suspended at 8.10pm on police orders and will be resumed if there are new leads,” he said.
According to him, the SAR operation continued yesterday morning before the victim was found about two kilometres from the car location at 10.30 am.
“The victim was found stuck in a bamboo grove in a tributary of Kampung Kawakaan, Inanam.
“The victim’s body was then taken out before being handed over to the police for further action,” he said.
Earlier, footage went viral on social media of a vehicle believed to have skidded before plunging into a ditch on Jalan Pan Borneo during heavy rain yesterday evening.
The road user’s footage also showed several individuals at the location to help, before a crane was used to lift the vehicle involved out of the ditch.
Firefighters remove the victim’s body from the creek.
The victim’s body was handed over to the police for further action.
The victim’s vehicle was crushed after it was believed to have skidded and plunged into a ditch.
