KOTA KINABALU: A man was killed after the four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle he was driving was involved in a collision with two lorries in the Lahad Datu east coast district.

The two lorry drivers escaped with only minor injuries in the mishap that occurred at KM10 Jalan Lahad Datu-Sandakan at about 11.30am Saturday (July 1).

Lahad Datu OCPD Asst Comm Dr Rohan Shah Ahmad said the 36-year-old 4WD driver, an Indonesian, died on the spot following the incident.

The other lorry landed on its side.

Based on the initial probe, he said the victim and one of the lorry drivers were headed to Lahad Datu from Sandakan.

“The victim suddenly tried to overtake another vehicle in front and collided head on with a tanker lorry after he could not return to his lane in time,” he said, in a statement.

He said the impact caused the 4WD driver to die on the spot, adding that the other lorry was trailing the 4WD and ended up being involved in the crash.

“The two lorry drivers sustained only minor injuries and received outpatient treatment at the Lahad Datu hospital,” he added.

The 4WD was a total wreck while the tanker lorry ended up in an oil palm plantation on the roadside and the other lorry on its side also on the roadside.

The tanker lorry ended up in an oil palm plantation on the roadside

ACP Rohan said the case was being investigated under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving.

He urged those with information pertaining to the accident to contact the investigating officer Insp Mohamad Humaidi Harun at 089-881 255 (ext 414) to help in the probe.

Towards this end, he advised motorists to be patient while on the road besides heeding the road rules.