TUARAN – Tragedy struck on Jalan Sulaman Gayang, near the Tuaran Rela Training Centre, when five students from Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM) Kota Kinabalu lost their lives in a fatal road accident on Friday afternoon.
The incident, which occurred around 2pm, involved a Toyota Wish carrying the students and a trailer. The force of the collision caused the car to skid onto the shoulder of the road, leaving five young men dead at the scene.
The victims have been identified as Harianto Anuar, Neil Stanly Pletinie, Mohammad Ikhwan Kurniawan, and Mohamad Zuhaikal Mohd Zaidy, all aged 20. Another victim, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was also killed in the crash.
Kota Kinabalu Fire and Rescue Station Chief, Ordine Gilu, said a team of nine firefighters was dispatched to the scene, located about 29 kilometres from the station.
“The accident involved a trailer and a Toyota Wish vehicle. After the collision, the car skidded and landed by the roadside. There were six victims in total, five in the Toyota Wish and one trailer driver. Our team managed to remove the victims from the vehicle, but sadly, all five students were confirmed dead by medical officers,” he said in a statement.
He added that the driver of the trailer escaped unhurt. The bodies of the victims were later handed over to the police for further action.
The operation concluded at 3.20pm after firefighters ensured the area was safe.
This tragedy has sent shockwaves across Kota Kinabalu, particularly among the IKM community. Friends, lecturers, and family members of the victims are mourning the sudden loss of promising young lives. Police investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash.
