KOTA MARUDU: Teacher and former national football referee Hilton Soibik, 38, died at 9.24am on Monday after fighting for his life for nearly 20 hours following a road accident along Jalan Mangaris 2 here.
His death was also announced by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), which extended its condolences to the family of the educator and experienced match official.
According to a statement on FAM’s Facebook page, Hilton was involved in the accident while travelling to officiate a match in the YB Munirah 2026 Parliamentary Cup in Kota Belud.
Kota Belud Member of Parliament Datuk Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis also expressed shock and sadness over his death in a statement on her Facebook page, extending her condolences to the bereaved family.
Kota Marudu District Police Chief Supt Simiun Lomudin said Hilton was driving a Toyota Hilux when it was believed to have collided with a Scania tanker truck at about 2pm on Sunday.
Hilton, who taught at SMK Salaping 2, sustained serious injuries, including fractures to his right leg, right arm and right shoulder, as well as injuries to his abdomen and head.
Simiun said preliminary investigations found that the tanker was travelling from Kota Kinabalu towards Kota Marudu, while the Toyota Hilux was heading in the opposite direction, from Kota Marudu towards Kota Kinabalu.
“When the Toyota Hilux reached the scene while travelling uphill along a bend, the driver was suspected of losing control of the vehicle before entering the opposite lane and colliding head-on with the tanker truck, causing the accident,” he said.
“The tanker truck driver was unharmed, while the Toyota Hilux driver, who sustained serious injuries, was extricated by firefighters and taken by ambulance to the Emergency Ward of Kota Marudu Hospital.”Simiun said police received a WhatsApp notification at 11.38am on Monday from Kota Marudu Traffic Enforcement Investigation Division assistant investigating officer SM Juinis confirming that Hilton had been pronounced dead at 9.24am at the Emergency Ward of Queen Elizabeth I Hospital by a medical officer.
He said the case had been reclassified and was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
