KOTA MARUDU: A nine-year-old girl was killed in a head-on crash between a four-wheel drive (4WD) and a three-tonne lorry in Kota Marudu district on Monday (Dec 25).

Nine others were injured in the accident, police said.

Kota Marudu OCPD Supt Zairolnizal Ishak said the victim, Rebecca Grace Tintingon, passed away at the district hospital's Emergency Unit at 2am on Tuesday (Dec 26).

Rebecca was in the front passenger seat of the 4WD driven by her mother, 48, who suffered multiple fractures.

A 15-year-old girl in the vehicle sustained a fractured leg.

Seven people were travelling in the 4WD while three people were in the lorry when the vehicles collided along the Kota Marudu-Pitas road at about 4.45pm on Christmas Day.

Supt Zairolnizal said the 43-year-old lorry driver was also seriously injured and suffered a broken thigh bone while two others in the vehicle were slightly injured.

Based on initial investigations, he said the lorry was heading towards Langkon with a load of oil palm while the 4WD was bound for Kanibungan, Pitas from Penampang.

"The driver of the 4WD lost control of the vehicle and veered into the opposite lane before crashing into an oncoming lorry," he said.

The vehicles ended up overturned on either side of the road following the crash and firemen had to be called in to help free three victims stuck in the mangled 4WD, he added.

The victims were all taken to the district hospital for treatment.

Supt Zairolnizal said investigations were still ongoing under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for driving without due car or attention or reasonable consideration for others using the road.