Ambulance carrying dead patient overturns in accident

KEMAMAN - An ambulance carrying a dead patient overturned after colliding with a pickup truck in an accident at KM1 of Jalan Cukai-Air Putih on Wednesday.

The patient, Abdul Ghani Samad, 55, was confirmed dead before the ambulance was involved in the incident at around 10.45am.

Kemaman district police chief Superintendent Hanyan Ramlan said the ambulance driver, Helmi Yunus, 37, suffered minor injuries to the arm.

Another passenger in the ambulance, Assistant Medical Officer Syafiq Che Mazir @ Che Mazit, did not sustain any injuries.

He said the accident occurred when the pickup truck, driven by Muhammad Idris, 59, from Kemaman Supply Base (KSB) Teluk Kalong, was heading towards Bengkel Batu 2 Kemaman to deliver company goods while the ambulance was coming from the direction of Seberang Tayor towards Kemaman Hospital.

"Initial investigations found that the accident happened when the pickup truck driver made a right turn after the traffic light turned green, suddenly an ambulance from the side road entered the pickup truck's path and collided with the rear left side.

"As a result of the accident, the ambulance skidded and overturned to the right side on the left side of the road," he said.

Hanyan said the patient had been confirmed dead by the Assistant Medical Officer before the accident occurred, while the pickup truck driver did not suffer any injuries.

"The post-mortem results showed that the victim died due to ischemic heart disease.

"The case is being investigated under Section 43 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987," he added.