Soldier killed, 22 hurt in LD another military truck accident

TAWAU - A soldier from the Royal Malay Regiment's 17th Battalion was killed while 22 of his colleagues were injured when the military truck they were in was involved in an accident at Km 4, Jalan Tengah Nipah-Lahad Datu, near here, Saturday.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Deputy Commander Brig Gen Subari Tomo said Cpl Mohd Farouk Baha, 28, from Yong Peng, Johor, died at the Lahad Datu Hospital at 11.15am.

"In the 10.30am incident, the truck was on it way from Kem Cenderawasi, Bandar Sahabat, Lahad Datu to Sandakan to send the men for routine operations.

"The truck suddenly went out control and plunged into a monsoon drain that is still under construction about four kilometres from Lahad Datu town," he said.

He said two privates were critically injured and were receiving treatment at the Lahad Datu Hospital and Tawau Hospital.

He added that Mohd Farouk's body would be flown to Tawau this (Sunday) morning and from there to Kuala Lumpur before being sent to his hometown for burial.

Meanwhile, Sabah Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Mohd Affendi K. Ramin said the Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Department was informed of the incident at 10.53am.

He said all the victims had been sent to hospitals when fire and rescue personnel arrived at the scene at approximately 11am.