TAWAU: A 21-year-old woman died after the Perodua Myvi she was driving crashed into a tree at the Airport Lama roundabout here early Wednesday.
The victim, Nurin Haziqah Mohamed Sirajudeen, was trapped in the wreckage for more than 30 minutes before firefighters managed to extricate her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tawau District Police Chief ACP Rosdi Mat Jusoh said preliminary investigations found that the car was travelling towards Tawau Hospital from Jalan Utara when the driver allegedly lost control at the roundabout and veered into the right side of the road divider before hitting a tree.
He said the victim sustained severe head injuries and was pronounced dead by Health Ministry medical personnel at about 2.46am, while a 20-year-old foreign male passenger suffered minor cuts to his forehead.
Rosdi said the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and urged witnesses to contact investigating officer Insp Joseph Jelian at 016-8067272.
Meanwhile, Tawau Fire and Rescue Station chief Jemishin Ujin said seven firefighters arrived at the scene at 2.34am after receiving an emergency call at 2.29am and used specialised equipment to free the trapped driver, who was handed over to the police after being extricated at 2.50am.
