BINTULU (Jan 17): A tragic accident claimed the life of a lorry driver last night after the vehicle he was operating caught fire following a collision on Mile 27, Jalan Bintulu-Miri.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) received an emergency call about the incident around 10pm. A team of 11 personnel from the Bintulu fire station was dispatched to the scene, located approximately 43km away, with one Fire Rescue Tender (FRT), one Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS), and a water tanker unit.
When the team arrived at 10.41pm, they found the lorry transporting stones engulfed in flames. According to Bomba, the vehicle had collided with the rear of another lorry carrying timber logs.
“Upon arrival, the lorry carrying the stones was already 100 per cent burned,” the department stated.
Eyewitnesses reported that the driver of the stone-laden lorry was pinned to his seat during the blaze. Tragically, the firefighters discovered the charred remains of the driver after extinguishing the fire. The remains were later handed over to the police for further investigation.
The driver of the timber-laden lorry was not found at the scene, leaving questions about their whereabouts.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the cause of the accident and locate the second lorry driver.
This incident serves as a somber reminder of the dangers faced by heavy vehicle operators on our roads and underscores the importance of road safety for all.
