KUCHING, May 28 — A motorcyclist was killed early this morning in a serious road accident involving three vehicles along Jalan Diplomatik here, in a case that has shocked morning commuters in the area.
According to Kuching District Police Chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu, police received information about the incident at approximately 7.10am. The crash is believed to have taken place earlier, around 7.00am, during peak morning traffic hours when roads were busy with commuters heading to work.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the 34-year-old local motorcyclist was travelling from Taman Kopodim towards Jalan Demak when the tragedy occurred. It is believed that the rider lost control of his motorcycle before crashing into the rear of a vehicle that had stopped at a red traffic light.
The impact of the collision was strong enough to push the first vehicle forward, causing it to strike another vehicle stopped in front of it, resulting in a chain-reaction crash involving three vehicles in total.
ACP Alexson confirmed that emergency responders from Sarawak General Hospital arrived at the scene shortly after the incident. However, the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe injuries sustained in the crash.
Fortunately, the drivers of the two other vehicles involved escaped without any injuries. They were later present at the scene to assist police with investigations.
Traffic movement along the stretch was temporarily affected as authorities carried out inspection and cleared the accident scene. Police have since urged road users to remain cautious, especially during early morning hours when traffic is heavy and visibility conditions may vary.
The case is currently being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident, including possible factors such as road conditions and speed.
Road safety experts continue to remind motorists and motorcyclists alike to maintain safe distances and stay alert, particularly at traffic light junctions where sudden stops are common and high-impact collisions can occur.
This latest incident adds to growing concerns over road safety in Kuching, especially involving motorcycles, which remain among the most vulnerable road users.
Investigations are ongoing.
