KUCHING, April 5: A 43-year-old woman passenger suffered severe head injuries while the driver was slightly injured on his head after their van collided with an ambulance along Jalan Datuk Merican Salleh here, today.
Sarawak Traffic Investigation and Enforcement chief Supt Alexson Naga Chabu said the incident occurred at 9.40am, when the ambulance from Tanah Putih clinic was heading towards Jalan Kwong Lee Bank from Jalan Utama while ferrying a patient.
“Upon reaching the traffic lights junction at Jalan Datuk Merican Salleh, the ambulance was suddenly hit by the van, which is coming out of the junction on the left from Jalan Datuk Marican Salleh.
“The ambulance driver, patient and passengers were not injured during the incident, while the van driver was slightly injured in the head and his passenger was seriously injured,” he said in a statement today.
Alexson noted both of the victims were brought to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for treatment where the woman was admitted into the hospital’s red zone, and the driver were treated in the yellow zone for their injuries.
He said police have taken a statement from the ambulance driver and also went to the scene to investigate, including taking photos and recording statements from five individuals who were in the ambulance during the incident.
According to Alexson, preliminary investigations revealed the accident was due to the van driver being unaware of the emergency siren when the ambulance was crossing the traffic lights junction at Jalan Datuk Marican Salleh.
“The van driver has yet to present himself to make a police report about the incident and the woman passenger is still being treated at the emergency ward in SGH.
“The case is being investigated under Section 43(1) of the road transport act 1987,” he added. — DayakDaily
