Kota Kinabalu: One of three tourists from Hong Kong, who were injured when their vehicle was hit by a train near the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Terminal 1 at Jalan Lintas in Petagas at 5.35pm, Wednesday, succumbed to injuries. Kota Kinabalu police chief ACP Jauteh Dikun said the man in his 50s, the driver of the ill-fated car, died while receiving treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Two others, both women, who were injured are still receiving treatment while the fourth in the car escaped without injuries.
The visitors, all family members were believed to be on their way to KKIA to catch a flight, while the train was travelling from Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort.
It was learnt that the Hyundai Accent they were in did not stop despite frantic attempts by railway personnel manning the gate and the train and other vehicles in the vicinity blaring their horns.
The mishap at the traffic light junction took place at about 5.30pm as the train ferried some 200 commuters back to Papar and Beaufort.
According to a witness, the Hyundai was heading towards the airport to catch an 8pm flight back to Hong Kong. The impact, said Jauteh, caused the Hyundai to skid before slamming into a Myvi heading towards Putatan, adding that all the Hyundai passengers have been sent to the hospital.
"Their ages could not be immediately determined as investigations are still on going," he said. The deceased was reliably identified as Lok Wing Tak @ Eddie, 50.
The Myvi passengers, comprising a 39-year-old man, his 33-year-old wife and three-year-old child were in shock but grateful to have escaped injuries.
"We stopped our vehicle at the traffic light junction because a train was approaching, I heard horns blaring, warning the vehicle about the approaching train but its driver just kept going without stopping," said the woman.
"The next thing I knew the vehicle was dragged several feet away."
She said the vehicle then crashed into their Myvi which, in turn, crashed into a cyclist which was next to them. However, they managed to get out of their vehicle.
The cyclist, Arcid Arrifin, 35, said he managed to jump off his bicycle when he saw the vehicles coming towards him.
"I was on my way home to Putatan from Kobusak when the incident happened," he said, adding that all the other vehicles had stopped to let the train through except for the Hyundai.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan who was at the scene said based on reports, the railway personnel had given out a warning for vehicles to stop, adding that all the vehicles stopped except for one.
Pairin who is also State Infrastructure Development Minister said he was made to understand that there were railway personnel stationed at the gate to warn motorists of the approaching train.
"I also understand that the train driver had applied the emergency brake when he saw the vehicle, but it couldn't stop in time causing it to crash into the vehicle.
He said since the crossroads is wide and even though we have railway staff manning the gates, it would be appropriate to have a bigger signage to warn motorists of an approaching train.
"I was made to understand that the gate was faulty and that the Railway Department is waiting for the spare parts to arrive, but in the meantime I think the gate should be operated manually while waiting for it to be fixed so that when a train comes no vehicles would cross," he said.
"Every road user must be sensible, even though you are rushing for time when you come to a railway stop, when everybody stops you have to do the same," he said.
It was learnt that the gate has been is service for about six months.
Also at the scene were Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah and Infrastructure Development Assistant Minister Datuk Ghulam Haidar.
