Routine trip home turns tragic as container crushes father, daughter

KOTA KINABALU - A routine trip to pick up his daughter from work ended in tragedy when a container fell onto the Toyota Avanza MPV they were travelling in, killing both of them.

Norfaieza Mohd Jadi, 24, who worked at a furniture shop, was picked up by her father, Mohd Jadi Pelbi, 53, and the two were heading home to Kampung Kuala Baru, Sepanggar.

Norfaieza was also said to teach Quran recitation after finishing work at the furniture shop.

The pair’s journey home turned tragic when a trailer carrying out container-lifting operations along Jalan Pelabuhan Sepanggar Bay reportedly lost its balance and overturned with its load.

The container crushed the MPV, trapping the father and daughter inside.

Firefighters launched a rescue operation, but had to use cranes to lift the container in order to free the victims.

The two remained trapped for about three hours before two cranes arrived at the scene at around 9.21pm to lift the container and allow firefighters to reach them.

Members of the public also joined the rescue effort, helping to pull out the badly damaged vehicle after the container was lifted.

Despite the efforts, both victims were pronounced dead due to severe injuries.

Kota Kinabalu District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Shahrudin Mat Husain said the lorry driver had been detained to assist in the investigation, while police continued probing the cause of the crash.

“The 49-year-old lorry driver has been detained to assist in the investigation.

“The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said.