Kota Kinabalu: A 27-year-old man was found dead about 2km from the site where a Honda WR-V skidded and plunged into a drain along Jalan Kawakaan on Thursday.
The victim was found by firefighters at about 10.28am on Friday during a search and rescue (SAR) operation in a drain connected to a stream.
The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) said the vehicle was involved in a self-skid incident at about 5pm on Thursday. An initial search found no victim inside or around the vehicle.
The SAR operation was temporarily suspended at 8.10pm following police instructions and was to resume if new leads emerged.
JBPM said its State Operations Centre contacted Inanam police at 7am on Friday and was informed there was no new information on the case at that time.
The Lintas Fire and Rescue Station team resumed the SAR operation at 8.45am, conducting a water-surface search in the drain connected to a stream from 9.21am.
The victim was later located about 2km from where the vehicle had plunged into the drain.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by police before his remains were handed over to them for further action.
The operation, involving 28 personnel from the Lintas and Penampang fire stations, ended at noon after the area was checked and no other hazards were found.
